Coimbatore: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will build warehouses to keep the electronic voting machines (EVMs), voter verifiable paper audit trial (VVPATs) and control units on the premises of the south taluk office in Coimbatore and on the district collectorate premises in Tirupur.
This is part of the EC’s project to set up warehouses across the state. It has instructed officials to complete the work at least by March 2021.
The Coimbatore district administration used to store the EVMs, VVPATs and control units at the office of the deputy director, public health department, on Race Course.
“We used to keep around thousands of EVMs, VVPATs and control units in the strong rooms in Coimbatore city. The building belongs to the public health department and the ECI decided to set up warehouses exclusively to store equipment,” said an EC official.
The poll panel has allotted Rs 4.5 crore for constructing a three-storied building at the south taluk office in the city.
In Tirupur district, the EVMs, VVPATs, and control units were stored at Tirupur south taluk and Palladam taluk offices. The EC has started the construction work for a warehouse on the district collectorate premises located on Tirupur- Palladam Road. The EC has allotted Rs 4.95 crore for this project.
The official added that the EC has started work to set up warehouses at all the district headquarters in Tamil Nadu. Warehouses will also be constructed in the six newly-formed districts – Tenkasi, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Chengalpet, Kallakurichi and Mayiladuthurai.