Mumbai authorities are mounting unprecedented security, logistical and administrative arrangements for the city’s civic polls on February 16. City police chief Arup Patnaik and municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar announced the details of the plan on Tuesday.

The country’s financial capital will choose representatives of 227 wards in the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation (BMC), the world’s richest civic body. With 2,232 candidates in the poll fray, BMC has set up 8,326 polling booths, including 211 in sensitive areas, for 1,02,79,377  voters to exercise their franchise. Out of the total, 45,61,405 female voters and  57,17,972 male voters  will choose from a mix of 280 female and 1,252 male candidates.

BMC has set up a helpline (9225320011), which will be active on February 15 from 8 am to 8 pm, to help voters check for their names on the voting list. Voters can also check for the same through SMS — they can send a message in the format voter()mcgm()full name()age to 56677. Additionally, they can log on to www.mcgmelection.org, click on the option ‘voters search’ and type their full name and age column.

The city police too have made elaborate arrangements for ensuring law and order during voting — 24,000 police personnel including 2,375 officers will man booths and public space in the city.

According to the Patnaik, 90 election related offences with 17 FIRs have been filed. 24 illegal firearms have been seized across the city. The police have also taken custody of 300 licensed firearms from their owners.  The police chief said that maximum deployment will be done at the four hypersensitive spots. The EVMs (electronic voting machines) will be dispatched to 29 centres across the city on Wednesday and guarded till the February 17 counting.
The traffic police have also announced traffic restrictions on February 16.  Two control rooms with emergency numbers 022-22623054 and 022-22621983 have been set up by the police for poll-related complaints.

Subodh Kumar said that identity proofs with photographs like, PAN card, driving licence, passport, government and semi-government identity cards, pension cards, UID, freedom fighters identity card, registered property document will be used for establishing voter’s identity.

Almost 80 candidates fielded by different citizen’s forums will fight for votes against candidates backed by political parties including heavyweights. 53 candidates are fielded by Mumbai 227, 15 by Loksatta Party, 9 by Mumbai Nagrik Satta,  3 by Mumbai Nagrik Manch and 1 by My Dream Colaba. 

The results will be declared on February 17 after counting begins at 5am and finishes at 12 pm at Kalidas Natya Griha, Mulund West .