Copters to transport officials to 4 polling booths in Nuapada

Bhubaneswar: For the first time, polling parties and election materials will be transported in choppers to four booths in Nuapada district. Among these is Katphar located 3,000 ft above the sea level and 110 km from the district headquarters town.
During the 2014 elections, the polling personnel negotiated dense forest terrain and creeks to reach the booths. There are many more booths in the district located at similar height but these will be accessed by foot by the polling staff. “We can transport men and materials in choppers for limited number of booths only. The personnel for other booths located in inhospitable and inaccessible areas will have to walk. May be for a few kilometres, we will be able to provide them motorcycle rides,” said superintendent of police (Nuapada) Smith Parmar.

The polling personnel will have to walk at least 10 km to reach these booths located atop hills. “There are about 10 booths in remote pockets. Most of these villages are inside the Sunabeda tiger sanctuary, which is a safe haven for the Left-wing extremists,” an officer of the district said. The other booths located atop hills are Patdhara, Sunabeda, Gatibeda, Soseng, Deosil. “Personnel for Patdhara, Sunabeda, Gatibeda and Katphar will travel by choppers,” officials said.

In 2014, the district administration had provided 40 bikes for the transportation of polling materials and personnel. This year, the officials are yet to decide on the number of motorcycles.

The administration has also decided to prepare a “route chart” to the booths. These will be given to each polling party. “The map will contain details of routes prepared keeping in view the security reasons. The maps will also contain information about the terrains, forest and creeks the personnel have to pass through,” said Parmar. Walkie-talkies would also be provided to the personnel going to inaccessible areas.