Leading app-based cab aggregator Ola has announced that it will provide free service to persons with disabilities (PWD) and will ferry them for free from their residence to the polling booth and back in Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Mysuru on Thursday.

This initiative is being carried out in partnership with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, Mangalore Zilla Panchayat, the Bengaluru District Electoral officer and the Commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) along with the District Electoral Officer and Commissioner of Mysore Corporation.

As part of this free service, Ola has assigned 270 cabs to the Election Commission and they will be made available to ferry PWD voters to polling booths. 

Similar free services will be made available for Ballari, Hubbali-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Belagav seats on April 23 in the second phase of the polls.

“We are committed to increasing the participation of Persons with Disabilities in the General Elections to Lok Sabha this year and are keen to facilitate their constitutional right to vote. We are grateful to Ola and appreciate their efforts in enabling seamless transportation so that every citizen can go out and vote,” Surya Sen AV, Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, said in a statement.

Ola has set up helpline numbers – 9071464553 / 7624915133 to assist the PWD voters and address any issues that arise.

Vishnu Bommareddy, Regional Head – South at Ola said, “The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are the largest democratic elections held in the world and ease of mobility is integral to the effective functioning of the system. In the recent past, we have seen that availability of convenient transport options has resulted in positive voter turnout and we will continue to back initiatives that support the constitutional machinery of the country. We are glad to partner with the local authorities and facilitate hassle-free mobility for every voter in Bengaluru.”