BMC elections 2022: More poll booths to ensure social distancing

Citizens outside a polling booth during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, at Colaba. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Maintaining social distance during the upcoming 2022 civic election means the number of polling booths will have to increase in a bid to avoid crowding, thus increasing the expenditure of the civic body. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start planning for the polls from next month.

As majority of the big grounds in the city have been turned into Jumbo Covid Centres, BMC will now be looking at venues where more booths can be placed. While the civic body generally had a target of around 1,000 people at each booth, this would be lowered to 700 to 800 to maintain social distance. And, along with more expenses, the civic body will also have to arrange more manpower for the increased booths and train them accordingly.

BMC generally spends Rs 50 crore or so for elections. The micro planning for the upcoming polls, which will take place early next year when the term of the current general body will end, is set to begin soon after Diwali. Currently, the process of drawing boundaries is underway. Sources said the work done by BMC will be submitted to the State Election Commission by the end of this month, following which either the election commission will put out the draft in public domain for suggestions and objections, or ask the BMC to do so. After this, a lottery will be carried out for the 227 electoral wards to decide which ward is reserved and which one remains open.

Sources also said the Covid factor will play a role in the delimitation (drafting of ward boundaries) exercise, as many have migrated permanently to their hometowns, thus changing the population density. While this will not impact much, it will still reflect at the time of voting percentage, said a senior civic official.

He said, "The exercise of drawing boundaries is almost complete and once the draft is tabled before the election commission, we will be able to start preparations from next month. We may have to increase the polling booths as social distance will be important and we do not want booths to be crowded. For this, we will have to find more venues where the polling stations can be set up."