GPS-fitted vehicles to be used for shifting EVMs, polling staff

Tirupati: With nomination phase for the ensuing general elections has been completed on Thursday, the election authorities were focussing their attention on conducting the elections on April 11 in a smooth way.

Having appointed the polling staff, first phase of training classes were also held with second phase has been slated for March 31. Apart from other things, transporting thousands of polling staff and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to their respective polling booths is a daunting task.

On the instructions of District Election Officer and District Collector PS Pradyumna, the Road Transport Department has been arranging the required vehicles in all the constituencies. The Collector asked Road Transport Authority (RTA) officials to make ready 608 buses, 161 mini buses and 68 jeeps for election purpose. All these vehicles should be handed over to the concerned authorities in the 14 constituencies on April 9.

Along with polling staff like presiding officers, Assistant presiding officers and others, EVMs and VVPATs are to be sent to more than 3,800 polling stations spread over every nook and corner of the district. About 23,000 staff will participate in election duties on the day of polling and 9,120 EVMs and an equal number of VVPATs will be used for polling.

The buses which transport these EVMs along with polling staff will be equipped with GPS so that their moment can be tracked. Of the 608 buses required for the district, 267 buses were meant for Tirupati RTO's jurisdiction. Out of the five constituencies in this region, Chandragiri requires 73 buses while 72 buses will be sent for Satyavedu constituency followed by Tirupati 58, Srikalahasti 35 and Nagari 29 buses. In addition to these mini buses and jeeps will be made available at these constituencies, said the RTO G Vivekananda Reddy.

Speaking to The Hans India, the RTO said that RTC will provide all the required buses while other vehicles will be hired from private operators. They will be paid the hire charges as per the government rates and the vehicles will be engaged from April 9 to April 11 night till the polling duties are completed.

Also, Tirupati Urban SP KKN Anbu Rajan has asked for 187 vehicles for police personnel's use. Of these, they need 161 Sumos, eight tempo traveller vehicles, nine Innovas, four buses and five mini buses. The RTO made it clear that they will ensure the good condition of all the vehicles to be used in elections before handing over them to concerned authorities.