Preparations for the upcoming Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections have intensified, with authorities establishing a central, high-security strong room to safeguard voting machines and oversee critical pre-poll procedures.
High-Security Strong Room Operational at Bachat Bhavan
The election machinery has activated a central strong room at Bachat Bhavan in Sitabuldi. This facility will serve as the primary hub for storing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and conducting the mandatory first-level checking (FLC) to identify any technical glitches. Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari personally inspected the site on Wednesday, scrutinizing the security blueprint.
His review focused on three key areas: a comprehensive CCTV surveillance network, arrangements for an uninterrupted power supply, and robust fire-safety systems. The strong room will be under 24/7 surveillance via 14 CCTV cameras. A dedicated team of 30 to 40 staff and officers will manage operations, overseen by Deputy Commissioner Mangesh Khavle, Chief Engineer Manoj Talewar, and Executive Engineer Rajendra Rathod.
EVM Logistics and Staff Mobilization in Full Swing
Officials confirmed that EVMs received from the State Election Commission will be distributed to polling stations across all zones from this central location. Essential components like seals, memory chips, and batteries have already arrived, paving the way for the FLC process to commence shortly.
On the human resource front, the administration has issued election duty notices to nearly 16,000 employees and officers. Commissioner Chaudhari has issued a stern warning, stating that strict action will be taken against anyone who fails to report for their assigned duty without a valid reason.
Training Sessions and Monitoring Squads Activated
To ensure a smooth voting process, extensive training for polling staff is scheduled. The first training session will be held on December 28. It will be followed by two more sessions that will cover detailed voting procedures and the correct handling of EVMs.
Beyond the polling teams, the election apparatus is also deploying specialized squads for vigilance. Expenditure monitoring squads and flying squads (SST–VST) are being appointed to monitor campaign spending and respond swiftly to any model code of conduct violations, ensuring the polls are conducted fairly and transparently.
