With the addition of over 2000 polling centres, 97,640 polling centres are now in place for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
An official from the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said in 274 new polling booths had been added in Nashik, 237 booths in Pune and 227 in Thane.
Not a single polling booth has been increased in Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency.
"Generally, there is one polling station for 1,400 voters. Since the last few days, time for registration for new voters has been extended. It has been seen that the number of voters in the state is increasing. Hence the number of polling stations have been added," he said.
He said for Lok Sabha elections this year, the plan was to establish 95,473 polling stations but due to the increase in the number of new voters, 2,167 polling stations have been added across the state, taking the total to 97,640.
The number of polling stations for Lok Sabha elections in 2004 were 64,508 while in 2009, the figure rose to 83,986 booths. In 2014, the number of polling booths further increased to 91,329.
He said the decision to increase the number of polling station, criteria for adding new stations, designing polling booths, deciding the minimum and maximum number of voters, publishing the list of voters at various centres, deciding the sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations, making available facilities at polling stations is taken by the Election Commission of India.
"Based on the sensitivity of the polling station, the necessary security is being provided. According to the EC, every polling booth should have at least 15 types of infrastructure facilities and this has been made mandatory. More care is been taken for the centres in remote areas," he said.
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