Put the Infrastructure in place first

BANGALORE: In yet another case of the official machinery coming short of people’s expectations, Voter Facilitation Centres - the Election Commission’s one-stop centres for redressal of all issues related to voters’ list and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) were a disappointment on day one of its operations, on Wednesday.
People flocked these centres in large numbers across the 28 Assembly segments in the City, only to find these centres totally unprepared to handle them. While men and machines were in short supply in many centres, a few others were just getting their fresh coat of paint! In sum, problems with computer systems, records, officials and office infrastructure proved to be a dampner on people who responded to the facility.
“Our exclusive office space is getting ready. Computers are yet to arrive. For the time being, we have set up office in the palike (BBMP) building. There have been a lot of enquiries from the people today. It is sad, but we had to request them to come after two days,” said an official in-charge of the VFC for Shantinagar Assembly segment at Mayo Hall.
“This facility is very helpful to the voters.
They can approach the officials any time to enquire about electoral photo identity cards.
It is also the right time for eligible people to enrol themselves in the voters list if they have not done so yet,” said another official at the centre.
For many people it was a double whammy coming just a day after they suffered the inaugural day’s inefficiency at the property tax help centres of the BBMP. One of those present at a VFC, Sadanand Kamat observed, “the property tax centre and the VFC have both issued him a visit again offer! We are working people and it is very difficult to come to these centres every other day. Why don’t they understand our problem and get the work done at one go,” he fumed.
The Shivajinagar VFC too was found functioning out of a temporary premises adjacent to its designated point. The latter was just being painted. “There is just one computer and hundreds of voters are coming to enquire. It is difficult to manage the people with little resources at our hand.
Things are being set right. Our functions will run smoothly after two or three days,” said an official.
The EC has said that EPICs will be issued within 10 days of submitting the application.
Sources in the Election Commission told the Express that VFCs will function till March 31, 2009.
The VFCs are open between 8 am and 12 noon and between 4 pm and 8 pm on all days except Mondays. On Sundays they will be open from 10 am to 8 pm. The details of the VFCs across the 28 assembly constituencies in Bangalore are as below: l Rajarajeshwarinagar: No.1794/42/43, 16th Cross, Ullala Main Road, Muneshwara Nagar; Ph: 080-3249441/9739903376.
Shivajinagar: Office of (O/o) the Assistant Revenue Officer (Shivajinagar), Queens Road; Ph: 080-32494456/9844024831.
Shanthinagar: Office of Assistant Revenue Officer (Shantinagar), Mayo Hall; Ph: 080 -32494457/9845239166.
Gandhinagar: Office of the Assistant Revenue Officer (Gandhinagar), Dr TCM.
Rayan Road, Goodshed Road; Ph: 080- 32494458/9739012520
Rajajinagar: O/o M.O.H. (Rajajinagar), B B M P complex ; P h : 0 8 0 - 32491663/9739042635
Chamarajapet: O/o Executive Engineer, Kasturba Nagar, Ward No. 45, 2nd Main, Behind Corporation, J.J.R.Nagara College Pipeline Road, Kasturba Nagar; Ph: 080- 32484182/9986440339 l Chickpet: Ward No.50 Ward Of fice, Kavilakshmesha Road, Opp NMH Hotel, VV Puram, Hombegowda Nagar; Ph: 080- 32484183 / 9739012273
KR Pura: O/o Asst.Revenue Officer (K.R.Puram), BBMP, Near KR Puram Bus Stand; Ph: 080-32494418 / 9739095356 l Mahalakshmi BBMP Open Air Theater,Vivekananda Park, Layout 9th Cross, West Of Chord Road, Nagapura.
Sriram Mandira; Ph: 080-32494424 /945055595
Malleswaram: O/o Asst.Revenue Officer (Malleshwaram),BBMP, No. 86, 16th Cross, Vayalikaval; Ph: 080-32494426 / 973997914
Hebbal: BBMP Engineer Ward Office, Ward No.98, Ganganagara; Ph: 080- 32494427 / 9341253282
Pulakeshinagar: BBMP Sub Health Office,Ward No. 91, Opp. Jayamahal Market, More Road, Frazer Town; Ph: 080- 32494447 / 9739094902
Sarvagnanagara: O/o Asst.Revenue Officer (Sarvagnanagara), M.M. Road, Cox Town; Ph: 080-32494448 / 9900495327
CV Raman Nagar: O/o Asst.Revenue Officer (Jeevanbhima Nagar), BBMP, 16th A&BMain, HAL 2nd Stage, Jeevanbhima Nagar Babasaheb Colony; Ph: 080-32494454 / 9880599144
Govindarajanagar: BBMP Helpline 17th Cross MRCR Layout, Near Water Tank, Behind Syndicate Bank; Ph: 080-32491668 / 9739042654
Vijayanagar: Ward Office No-34, 5th Main RPC Layout, Hampinagar, Next to Sankashtahara Ganapathy Temple; Ph: 080-32491953 / 9739012512
Basavanagudi: Office of the Revenue Officer (South) 1st Floor, C T Bed, Opp SSM School Tyagarajanagar; Ph: 080-32484185 / 9448454432 l Padmanabhanagar: Engg Ward Office BBMP, 8th Main Banashankari, 2nd Stage; Ph: 080-32484186 / 9739042742
BTM Layout: Engg Ward Office BBMP, Madiwala Hosur Main Road, Near Ayyappa Swamy Temple; Ph: 080-32474187 / 9739903419
Jayanagar: Office of the Electoral Registration Officer, 173 Jayanagar Shopping Complex, 4th Block, Ph: 080-32471600 / 9739042756
Bommanahalli: Office of the Assistant Revenue Office BBMP, Bommanahalli subrange Begur Road; Ph: 080-32471594 /9739012276 l Yelahanka: Taluk Office, Yelahanka, Byat a r ayana pur a ; Ph: 0 8 0 - 2 8 5 6 0 7 6 3 /9739095349
Byatarayanapura: BBMP office, Byatarayanapura; Ph: 080-22975936 / 9448107217
Yeshwanthpura: Kengeri BBMP office; Ph: 080-28484216 / 9886780617
Dasarahalli: Old BBMP office, Dasarahalli; Ph: 080-28375725 / 9341901521
Mahadevapura: BBMP of fice, Mahadevapura, Whitefield; Ph: 080-32484532 / 9739002468
Bangalore South: Taluk Panchyat Office, Bangalore South, Kanakapura Road, Banashankari ; Ph: 080-26712338 / 9731090000
Anekal (SC): Grama Panchyat office, Chandapura Anekal Taluk, Anekal Taluk; Ph: 080-7835700/9900628282.