Coimbatore City Police have imposed a temporary drone ban across 12 areas including R.S. Puram and Saibaba Colony from April 29 to May 2, 2026. The restriction covers zones surrounding Government College of Technology where EVMs are stored and vote counting is scheduled for May 4, with violators facing strict legal action.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore City Police have declared a temporary Red Zone for drone operations across multiple areas in the city, citing security concerns related to the upcoming vote counting process scheduled for May 4, 2026. The stringent measure has been implemented to ensure the safety and integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stored at the Government College of Technology (GCT) campus.
According to the official notification issued by the Coimbatore City Police, drone operations have been completely banned in 12 key localities surrounding the counting center. The restricted areas include Saibaba Colony, Venkitapuram, Velandipalayam, Edayarpalayam, Kovilmedu, Vadakovai, R.S. Puram, Poosaripalayam, Seeranaickenpalayam, Veerakeralam, Vadavalli, and P.N. Pudur. These neighborhoods form a protective perimeter around the GCT campus where the sensitive election materials are being secured.
The drone ban will remain in effect from 5 PM on April 29, 2026, through 5 PM on May 2, 2026, covering a critical 72-hour period leading up to the counting day. This timeframe has been carefully selected to coincide with the final stages of EVM storage and pre-counting security arrangements.
Police authorities have emphasized that the restriction is part of comprehensive security protocols designed to prevent any unauthorized surveillance or potential security breaches in the vicinity of the counting center. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles in these designated Red Zones could pose risks to the electoral process and compromise the security of the stored voting machines.
Law enforcement officials have issued stern warnings that any violation of the drone ban will result in immediate and strict legal action. The Coimbatore City Police have urged residents, photographers, hobbyists, and commercial drone operators to strictly comply with the temporary restriction and avoid flying drones in the specified areas during the prohibition period.
The announcement comes as part of heightened security measures being implemented across Coimbatore in preparation for the vote counting process. The Government College of Technology has been designated as the primary counting center for the district, necessitating multiple layers of security arrangements to ensure a smooth and secure counting process.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas have been advised to cooperate with the police during this period and report any unauthorized drone activity immediately to the nearest police station or through the emergency helpline numbers.
According to the official notification issued by the Coimbatore City Police, drone operations have been completely banned in 12 key localities surrounding the counting center. The restricted areas include Saibaba Colony, Venkitapuram, Velandipalayam, Edayarpalayam, Kovilmedu, Vadakovai, R.S. Puram, Poosaripalayam, Seeranaickenpalayam, Veerakeralam, Vadavalli, and P.N. Pudur. These neighborhoods form a protective perimeter around the GCT campus where the sensitive election materials are being secured.
The drone ban will remain in effect from 5 PM on April 29, 2026, through 5 PM on May 2, 2026, covering a critical 72-hour period leading up to the counting day. This timeframe has been carefully selected to coincide with the final stages of EVM storage and pre-counting security arrangements.
Police authorities have emphasized that the restriction is part of comprehensive security protocols designed to prevent any unauthorized surveillance or potential security breaches in the vicinity of the counting center. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles in these designated Red Zones could pose risks to the electoral process and compromise the security of the stored voting machines.
Law enforcement officials have issued stern warnings that any violation of the drone ban will result in immediate and strict legal action. The Coimbatore City Police have urged residents, photographers, hobbyists, and commercial drone operators to strictly comply with the temporary restriction and avoid flying drones in the specified areas during the prohibition period.
The announcement comes as part of heightened security measures being implemented across Coimbatore in preparation for the vote counting process. The Government College of Technology has been designated as the primary counting center for the district, necessitating multiple layers of security arrangements to ensure a smooth and secure counting process.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas have been advised to cooperate with the police during this period and report any unauthorized drone activity immediately to the nearest police station or through the emergency helpline numbers.