EC to get new 250,000 EVMs

New Delhi, Jan 24 (UNI) The Election Commission will get an additional 250,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for holding elections.

The Centre today gave approval for the purchase of 250,000 EVMs to meet the growing demand for the same following the increase in the number of polling stations in the country.

A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also gave ex post facto approval for the procurement of EVMs for elections to the Legislative Assemblies in Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand next month.

An Official Spokesman said these EVMS would also be used later during the election to the state Legislative Assemblies in Uttar Pradesh.

He said each EVM would cost Rs 8670, excluding transportation, excise duty and sales tax.

The Election Commission has been taking up the rationalisation of polling stations from time to time and on the basis of feedback received from states, it felt the need for reducing the voter strength per polling station in order to ensure voter convenience and an orderly poll within the stipulated polling hours.

This has resulted in an increase in polling stations across the country and consequential requirement of about 250,000 EVMS to cope with the additional requirement, the spokesman said.

UNI