Hyderabad: Valet parking is likely to be provided at select polling stations in the city. The Hyderabad District Election authorities conducted a survey to find out which booths should be provided with this facility.
The survey also tries to ascertain why enrolled voters do not come to polling booths to cast their vote. Some of the questions being put forth to voters are: Is it the summer heat or long queues? Do you remember the polling date and timings? What facilities do you want at booths to vote?
Hyderabad district election officer Somesh Kumar said that parking is usually provided at a fair distance from polling booths due to security concerns. Not all people have chauffeur-driven cars and several voters may be discouraged by the prospect of having to walk in the heat after parking their cars to cast their vote.
“Providing valet parking is only an attempt from our side to encourage people to to vote. It may not be possible at all polling booths, but we can extend the facility at some polling stations in Hitec City, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills and other parts of the city,” Mr Somesh Kumar said.
The idea is to hire services of drivers employed by managements of malls. Around 2,400 voters are being approached to get the feedback.
The District Election authorities have decided to declare the polling day (April 30) as a holiday for even the multiplexes, malls, cinema halls and other entertainment centres. “We are getting in touch with the managements of malls to get the services of drivers for valet parking facility,” Somesh Kumar said.
Stating that 2400 voters are being approached on Friday and Saturday as part of survey to take feedback from them, Somesh Kumar said these voters were selected from a couple of polling booths from each of the 24 Assembly segments in GHMc limits that recorded highest polling percentage during last election, lowest polling per cent and average polling per cent.
“We have prepared a questionnaire whether the enrolled voters have voter Id card and if they do not have why didn’t they take one, did they voted last time and problems faced by them at polling booth, if they did not vote then what are the reasons, what is the biggest worry they have in mind that stops them from coming out to vote and is it the long queue or summer heat, what should be the minimum voting age, do they remember polling date and time.
We will analyse all the answers and try to come out with apackage to attract more number of voters to polling booth this time,” Somesh Kumar added.
