Preparations have been made to ensure that the counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections goes off without a hitch, said N. Manjunath Prasad, District Election Officer and Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said Mount Carmel College is the counting centre for Bengaluru Central, St. Joseph's College for Bengaluru North and SSMRV PU College for Bengaluru South constituencies.
Around 1,500 personnel have been deputed on counting day. They have been given one round of training. The second round will be held on May 22, following which they will be assigned Assembly constituencies after a randomisation exercise.
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Only those with passes will be allowed inside the centres. Those entering will not be allowed to carry their mobile phones, he said.
Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar said that heavy security arrangements have been made. Seven Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 24 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), 76 inspectors, 180 sub-inspectors, 2,000 constables, apart from 30 platoons of City Armed Reserve, 23 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police and two companies of para military forces will be deployed.
He said prohibitory orders will be in place for 24 hours (from 6 a.m. on May 23 to 6 a.m. on May 24), while section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code will be in place for 18 hours (from 6 a.m. to midnight on May 23).
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Parking arrangement have been made for citizens near all the counting centres. For those coming to Mount Carmel College, parking arrangements have been made at Palace Grounds. Those going to St. Joseph's College may park their vehicles in the college ground and Kanteerava stadium. Those going to SSMRV PU College may park their vehicles at Carmel Convent and the BMTC depot nearby.