Nagpur: The ongoing voter mapping drive under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is set to continue beyond its initial deadline. Officials have indicated that there is no fixed timeline and the exercise may extend further into April to ensure wider coverage and data accuracy.Deputy district election officer Rachana Indurkar told TOI the process is being treated as a continuous exercise rather than a time-bound programme. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier set March 28 as the deadline. “The mapping has to be thorough, so it will continue on a day-to-day basis. A formal schedule may be announced anytime between April 1 and 10, but our preparatory work is already underway to cover as many voters as possible,” she said.The drive has triggered confusion on the ground, with several citizens citing poor coordination, unresponsive Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and a lack of clarity on documentation requirements. Many voters said inconsistent communication and limited assistance have made the process difficult.Indurkar acknowledged the issues but stressed the exercise is essential for cleaning up electoral rolls. “The objective is to verify voters’ actual place of residence. If a voter is not found at the listed address, appropriate action has to be taken. We are also updating photographs that are blurred or outdated,” she said.She added that duplication remains a major concern, with multiple entries in some cases. “There are instances of duplicate or similar records linked to the same individual. These are being scrutinised to ensure only valid entries remain,” she said.Addressing specific concerns, Indurkar clarified that voters who have shifted from other states or districts must cancel their previous registration before enrolling at a new address. “Those who have moved here need to surrender their old voter ID and apply afresh to avoid duplication across constituencies,” she said.On complaints about non-responsive BLOs, she said strict action has been initiated. “Show-cause notices with a 24-hour deadline have been issued to those failing in their duties. Further action, including suspension, will follow if there is no response,” she said, adding that the directive has been enforced across multiple locations.Officials believe extending the exercise will improve accuracy and reduce errors ahead of the verification phase, even as efforts continue to streamline operations and address public grievances.
