Hyderabad: Safe & swift polling measures afoot

Hyderabad: Keeping in view Covid-19 threat, all safety arrangements are being made at over 9,000 polling stations for the GHMC election. The number of booths is also being increased so that there will be no crowding. Almost all polling stations are being cleaned and sanitised as per Covid norms. At the entrance of each station, sanitiser bottles are being kept. All voters have been instructed to wear masks.

As per the instructions of the State Election Commission, all arrangement have been made keeping in mind the current

pandemic situation. Basic facilities like sanitising rooms, providing electricity, CCTV cameras, water cans, sanitisers are being installed.

The polling staff have been given safety kits which include face masks, gloves and sanitisers. There will be thermal guns at the entrance of every polling station. Every person's temperature will be checked before voting.

The staff of polling stations in all GHMC wards were engaged in last-minute preparation that includes erecting tents and installing cameras, markings to maintain social distance norms, setting up ballot boxes.

"In almost all 389 polling stations in the Secunderabad zone, apart from Covid arrangements, ramps would be provided along with wheelchairs and volunteers to operate them. Senior citizens and women carrying children would be directly allowed inside the polling station. No need to stand in the queue for their turn to cast the vote," said Mohan Reddy, Deputy Commissioner, Secunderabad Zone.

In 465 polling stations spread across six wards in the Kukatpally zone, the average voter strength in each ward is around 650. As per instructions, all arrangements are being made keeping in view current pandemic situation, said V Prashanthi, Deputy Commissioner, Kukatpally circle, and Ravi Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Moosapet.