Web-based map marks 532 vulnerable city booths

Chennai District, which comprises three Parliamentary constituencies North Chennai, Central Chennai and South Chennai, has 3,754 polling booths, of which 532 are identified as vulnerable and critically vulnerable booths. The Chennai Corporation has identified such booths with the help of city police and based on past incidents and possibility of clashes during the elections.

“On our web-based map, we have marked the location of the polling booths using ‘dots.’ Vulnerable booths have been marked by red squares. This will help the election officials from other districts and Paramilitary forces deployed during the polls to reach the booths without any confusion,” the official added.

However, the Chennai Corporation official hinted that the map marked with the vulnerable booths is only for the poll officials and the ordinary maps with the location of polling booths could be used by the voters.

Meanwhile, the District Election Office has formed as many as 48 flying squad teams (FST) and 48 static surveillance teams (SST) to check violations of model code of conduct and cash for votes. Four companies of CISF (Central Industry Security Force) comprising of more than 300 personnel have arrived in the city.

The official pointed out they had used the same technology for mapping the trees and civic facilities in the city and the application was developed by the civic body. “We are conducting GIS-based mapping of the city and the process is nearing completion. The polling booths and vulnerable booths are mapped using the same technology,” he added.

Blurb: Chennai Corporation official hinted that the map marked with the vulnerable booths is only for the poll officials and the ordinary maps with the location of polling booths could be used by the voters.