Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Visakhapatnam Officials Told to Expedite Polling Station Preparations
A city official inspected neighborhoods in Visakhapatnam to check public services.
He looked at garbage collection, clean roads, drains, streetlights and drinking water.
He also checked whether sanitation workers were attending work.
Some workers had been absent for a long time, so officials were told to take action.
The official asked workers to remove tree branches and other waste from roads.
He also checked plans for polling stations for the coming local elections.
Officials must make sure polling stations are inside the correct wards and have basic facilities.
Residents of Sonia Gandhi Colony said their water supply was not enough.
Water officials were told to finish pipeline work faster so residents do not face shortages.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg ordered continuous sanitation monitoring and warned that laxity would not be tolerated.
Officials were directed to expedite polling station identification and provide basic amenities before the upcoming local body elections.
A field inspection covered wards 45 and 48, including Shadikhana, NGOs Colony and Sonia Gandhi Colony.
The Commissioner ordered action against sanitation workers absent for prolonged periods and said eligible applicants could fill resulting vacancies.
Water supply officials were told to speed up 24×7 pipeline work after residents reported inadequate drinking water in Sonia Gandhi Colony.
- Who
- Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ketan Garg, zonal officials, sanitation workers and local residents.
- What
- Officials were directed to improve sanitation, address absenteeism, prepare polling stations and accelerate water-supply pipeline work.
- When
- During a field inspection on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming local body elections.
- Where
- Various areas in Visakhapatnam’s wards 45 and 48, including Shadikhana, NGOs Colony, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Sonia Gandhi Colony.
- Why
- To improve civic services, ensure polling stations have basic amenities and address residents’ drinking-water concerns.
- Official
- Ketan Garg, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner
- Inspection areas
- Wards 45 and 48
- Absent workers identified
- One permanent sanitation worker and four outsourcing personnel
- Election preparation
- Officials reviewed proposed polling stations and were told to identify additional locations where needed.
- Sanitation concerns
- Door-to-door waste collection, roads, drains, streetlighting and roadside tree branches were reviewed.
- Water concern
- Residents of Sonia Gandhi Colony reported inadequate drinking water supply.
- Water project
- Officials were instructed to expedite ongoing 24×7 water-supply pipeline works.