Mumbai: In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at tightening oversight of the election process, BMC deployed a geofencing system to monitor the movement of vehicles engaged in the civic polls. The system will track 2,865 vehicles used for election-related duties. Civic officials said the move is part of a broader effort to ensure smooth, secure and transparent conduct of the polls. The vehicles include 1,023 BEST buses, 101 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses, 1,160 private buses, and 581 taxis, which are used to transport voting machines as well as polling officers and staff across the city.Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi said the geofencing system allows officials to keep close watch on the real-time movement of all election vehicles. “All vehicles are fitted with tracking systems and are linked to a central control room at the BMC headquarters. This enables live tracking, route history monitoring and instant alerts if a vehicle deviates from its assigned route,” she said.A dedicated control room was set up by the Transport Wing of the Solid Waste Management Department, equipped to monitor vehicle movements round the clock. For the first time, geofencing alerts are also integrated with the online maps in the offices of each Returning Officer. If any designated vehicle moves outside the assigned jurisdiction, an automatic alert is generated, allowing officials to immediately verify its status.Civic officials said the initiative is aimed at preventing delays, misuse of vehicles, or logistical disruptions during the election process. The control room will be staffed by engineers and operators working in shifts to ensure continuous monitoring. The BMC said the move complements other election-related arrangements, including manpower deployment, security measures, voter facilities at polling stations, and preparations for vote counting.
