Top schools to double up as model polling stations

PANCHKULA: A total of 37 booths in Panchkula have been marked as model polling stations by the election commission cell of the district. These would be located in top schools.
Satluj Public School, Sector 4, St Xavier Junior School, Sector 20, DC Model School, Sector 7, and Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, are among the listed booths.
These booths, according to deputy commissioner S S Phulia, would have special facilities."We want to provide all possible facilities to voters. As a result, we have come up with the list of model booths. As it is not possible for us to provide all the facilities in all the booths we have chosen renowned private schools as they have proper infrastructure," Phulia added.
"These booths would have water facilities and clean toilets. We have also consulted the medical teams for their help and cooperation. We are also planning to arrange some wheelchairs for the disabled and senior citizens," Phulia said.
The Election Commission would arrange webcasting through which people would be able to see live footage of the polling booths. "There would be links of these booths on our election website and public would have direct access to these model booths. We conducted this exercise in the Lok Sabha elections in Panchkula too," said a senior EC member.
The authorities have also marked five auxiliary booths. These would be used in case the number of voters exceeds more than 16,000 at a polling booth. These booths would be in Jainendra Public School, Doon Public School, Government Primary School, Blue Pearls and Bright school.
"In case, voters at a booth exceed their limit, we have arranged for five special booths where we are expecting large crowds. In that case a special booth would be there with booth number 8 and it would be marked as 8A. Similarly, with booth number 38, there would be 38A and likewise," Phulia said.