SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 25: Free bus services in city areas and E-rickshaw facilities in villages for bringing voters to booths and dropping them at residences failed to increase the vote percentage in the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat.
According to District Returning Officer (DRO)-cum-Deputy Commissioner Madhvi Mishra, Dhanbad recorded a 58.90 % vote till 5 pm.
Dhanbad polls 9.8 per cent less compared to 2019
According to the official record, it is 9.8 % less than the voting record in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. However, a senior official said that a revised voting percentage will be announced later.
The voting percentage in various assembly segments was also recorded less than the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
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According to the figure of the District Returning Officer, polling registered 54.51 per cent in Dhanbad, 54.5 per cent in Jharia, 68.28 per cent in Sindri, 65.55 per cent in Nirsa, 49.5 percent in Bokaro, and 70.5 per cent in Chandankryari.
In the 2019 elections, Sindri had registered 71.49%, Tundi 70.13%, Nirsa 67.79%, Baghmara 61.03%, Dhanbad 55.07% and Jharia 50.60%.
To enhance vote percentage the administration had for the first time provided continuous up and down buses and ferry facilities separately for male and female voters on city roads and E-rickshaws in villages during polling hours from 6 am to 6 pm.
According to a senior official of the District Election wing, free-of-cost bus services ran in the city from City Centre to Memko More, from Randhir Verma Chowk to Big Bazar, Rangatand Chowk to Dhansar, Dhansar to Matkuria.
Similarly, E-Rickshaws ran in lanes of towns and villages to bring and drop voters.
An old-age voter said that he had decided to skip voting due to the high temperature of the day but changed his mind having seen the bus facility provided by the district administration.
