Chennai, April 14: A new initiative has been launched in Chennai to facilitate easier and more organized voting in the upcoming elections. All 16 assembly constituencies in the city will implement a color-coded system for polling booths, ensuring that voters can reach their designated booths without any hassle.
This initiative is particularly aimed at larger polling centers where multiple booths are set up within the same premises. District Election Officer J. Kumaragurubaran explained that the color-coding system will be applied to polling centers with more than ten booths. Signboards and pathways marked with different colors will guide voters directly to their assigned booths, reducing confusion and delays.
In a large city like Chennai, there are a total of 1,197 polling centers with 4,085 polling booths. Many of these centers are located in schools and public institutions, where the high number of booths can create crowding and confusion. This new arrangement aims to significantly alleviate these issues.
For instance, at the Chennai High School in the Nammalwarpet area of Purasaivakkam, pathways have been marked with distinct colors such as sky blue, pink, and pistachio green to help voters easily find their booths. Along with these colorful paths, signboards have been placed throughout the area.
Officials state that this system is especially crucial at centers with a high influx of voters. According to one official, a single school can host 16 booths, accommodating around 9,000 voters. Managing such a crowd without proper guidance can be challenging.
Similarly, a private school in the Perambur area has established two separate entrances and one exit to ensure smooth voter movement. Additionally, maps have been displayed at key locations to help individuals quickly locate their booths.
The Election Department has also made special arrangements for differently-abled voters to ensure they face no difficulties. Furthermore, some centers will provide secure racks for mobile phones.
Officials have indicated that if this trial proves successful, the color-coded system could be implemented at all centers with more than five booths in the future.
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