NMC elections: Why some Prabhags have nearly 100 booths, while others just 60

 

 

As the elections for Nagar Panchayat and Municipal Council comes to an end, preparations have now begun for the forthcoming elections to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), with the civic administration announcing the distribution of polling booths across the city’s wards. The allocation of 3,004 polling booths in 38 wards clearly reflects differences in population size and settlement patterns. While densely populated inner-city prabhags have been allotted a higher number of booths, outer and relatively planned areas have fewer polling stations. Ward 29 in the Hanuman Nagar zone has the highest number of polling stations, with 98 booths for a population of 62,343. The ward broadly covers Mhalgi Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Hudkeshwar (Bu) and Narsala.

 

The mix of older residential pockets and recently included settlements has driven the need for a higher number of booths to keep voter load manageable. Wards 5 and 21 follow closely, with 96 booths each. Ward 5, which has a population of 68,482, includes Binaki Mangalwari, Mehendibag Colony, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar and Panchvati Nagar. Ward 21, home to 63,364 residents, covers Sataranjipura, Premnagar, parts of Lakadganj and the Itwari Railway Station area. These inner-city wards are characterised by compact housing, narrow internal roads and consistently high voter concentration. Ward 36 has 94 booths catering to a population of 70,209. Key localities in this ward include Trimurti Nagar, Khamla, Sonegaon Settlement and the Airport Area.

 

Ward 2, with 91 booths for 69,465 residents, spans Nari Gaon, Sugat Nagar, Kabir Nagar and parts of Ramai Nagar, reflecting long-established neighbourhoods with dense habitation. In contrast, wards with fewer booths underline a different urban profile. Ward 38 in the Laxmi Nagar zone has the lowest number, with 60 booths for a population of 47,216. The ward includes Kalyan Nagar, Hingna Naka area, Jaitala Settlement and Shivangaon, where residential spread is wider and access is relatively easier. Ward 26 has 64 booths for 59,642 residents, covering Wathoda Vasti, Kharbi, Hasanbagh and Swaraj Vihar.

 

Ward 3, despite a population of 64,371, has 65 booths across areas such as Wanjara Industrial Area, Mehbubpura, Ramai Ambedkar Nagar and Siddharth Nagar. Wards 9 and 24, with 66 booths each, include established mixed-use belts. Ward 9 covers Indora, Bezonbagh, Gaddigodam and Mangalwari Market, while Ward 24 includes Bharat Nagar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Market Yard, Kumbharpura and Sainagar. Election officials said each booth would serve around 700 to 900 voters. Compared with 2017, when 2,700 booths catered to about 20.9 lakh voters, the present arrangement reflects an electorate increase of nearly 3.9 lakh. With booth-wise details now public, political mobilisation has intensified, particularly in high-booth wards where ground-level organisation is expected to be decisive.