BMC on fast-track mode, lures voters via buses, trains

Mumbai: In a bid to increase the voter turnout during the forthcoming civic body elections, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has undertaken several measures to create awareness about voting. The civic body has decided to paint train rakes and buses with messages urging people to exercise their franchise.

To ensure people’s participation on a larger scale, the state election commission (SEC) has asked the BMC to increase the voters’ percentage by at least 10 per cent in the forthcoming civic polls. Accordingly, the BMC has undertaken several measures to create public awareness about voting. According to the civic officials, there are 91.80 lakh voters in Mumbai, who are eligible to vote in the upcoming civic polls. During the 2012 BMC elections, only 42 per cent voters had cast their votes.

Talking about the steps undertaken, a senior BMC official said, “Apart from following the conventional methods to educate and awaken the voters of the metropolis, we have arranged to paint two local trains (rakes) on the Main line of Central Railway, two on Western Railway route and one on Harbour line, with messages urging people to vote. Apart from that, two percent of the total fleet of BEST buses and bus stops will also sport similar messages that will urge people to cast their vote.”

The LEDs and hoardings placed at important junctions of the city would also flash appeals to vote, he said adding, “Even the exterior parts of airports, octroi booths, ATM kiosks, etc would be lit up with messages urging people to come forward and vote,” he said. “We have also contacted office-bearers of hotel owners association, who have primarily agreed to offer discount on food on the election day to those, who show their ink-marked fingers. Not only this, even Uber taxi drivers are planning to offer discounts that day to passengers who cast their vote,” the official added.