MCD polls: Delhi to observe dry days from 5:30 pm on Friday

Representational Picture (AFP)

New Delhi: The Delhi government has ordered that dry days will be observed in the national capital from Friday evening till the polling day. According to the order issued by the Delhi Excise Department, all liquor shops, bars will remain closed from 5.30 PM on April 21 to 5.30 PM on April 23 (MCD polling day). Clubs serving liquor will also have to comply with the order. ALSO READ: Delhi Mahila Congress Chief Barkha Shukla sacked from party after attack on Rahul Gandhi On the day of counting April 26, dry day will be observed. "In pursuance of the provision of Rule 52 of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, it is hereby ordered that dry days shall be observed from 5.30 PM on April 21 to 23 till 5.30 PM on account of elections to municipal corporations," the order stated in a PTI report. Elections to Delhi's three civic bodies - North, South and East Municipal Corporations will be held on April 23. Metro services to begin from 4 AM on April 23 The metro train services in the national capital will commence from 4 AM on April 23, Sunday. "On the day of the MCD elections, the Delhi Metro train services will start from 4:00 AM so that the staff deployed in election duty can avail the facility. "The trains will run with a frequency of 30 minutes on all the lines till 06:00 AM. After 6:00 AM, metro trains will run as per the normal timetable throughout the day on all lines," a senior DMRC official told newsagency PTI. For the first time over 1.1 lakh voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise. The total number of electorate for the civic polls stands at 1,32,10,206 which include 73,15,915 men, 58,93,418 women and 793 voters in the other category. Campaigning for the election will end on the evening of April 21.