People talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's journey by road more than his attack on the present dispensation here in the state. They marvel at Jharkhand police doing it at the shortest notice.
The PM covered around 256 kms of journey by road that too in a highly inclement weather in Jharkhand on September 15.
He went to Jamshedpur from Ranchi airport by road covering around 128 kms and got back to Ranchi airport traversing the same distance.
Never in the travel history of any Prime Minister of India such a long road journey and that too in the worst of weather was ever undertaken by any of the Prime Ministers.
DGP Jharkhand Anurag Gupta and his team were right on the job. The plan B journey by road was ready in advance. The 'Home Work' for the PM's journey by road was just given a final go and things began to roll down to the precision.
Road opening plans were put in place already. Six companies of the Central Armed Police Force were out. Anti naxal ops were intensified.
Police officers of the rank of the ADG to DIG to SSP to SP were pressed in to monitor and oversee the minutest of the minute things.
As usual which happens ahead of every VVIP's programme here in Jharkhand security concerns and other preparedness are overseen and monitored by ADG Jh (Ops) Dr Sanjay Anandrao Lathkar and senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal.
Sources said the two Lathkar and Amitabh (known by his first name) were already stationed in Jamshedpur ahead of PM's programme on September 15 keeping eyes on everything that was happening there.
Sources said the two when learnt of the PM reaching Jamshedpur by road, knew 'It's time to be on the NH. They did it. When these two bigwigs were so out in the rains, others followed the suit with more energy and efficiency.'
Sources said Lathkar and Amitabh just looked for it and when they saw things going smoothly they grew confident of having PM's journey by road all in peace and comfort of the VVIP.
This correspondent spoke to the ADG (Ops) Lathkar who said "It was a great team work. Everyone did a big job. Rains couldn't dampen our spirit."
Amitabh Kaushal on being contacted said "Everyone was very sincere about what he was to do and how best to do. And all did extremely well."
Sources said had there been any little fiasco, Jharkhand police would not have been able to do any damage control exercise.
Two big things emerged from this PM's journey by road. One for the BJP, which got a shot in the arm. It was like a soothing political stimulant to the BJP.
The second was ostensibly and obviously to the Jharkhand police which will be known and recognized by other states for its meticulous and clinically precise arrangements for a 256 km total journey by road of the PM that too in weather most hostile.
