AMARAVATI: The second phase of ration distribution began on Thursday. Hundreds of village and ward volunteers turned up at the houses in red zones and handed over the ration to rice card beneficiaries. The government deployed a substantial number of volunteers in the red zones to handle the door delivery as locals there are not being allowed to step out.Meanwhile, given the lack of livelihood, a large number of people turned up at 5 am at the ration depot.Following the complaints against the first phase, the civil supplies department set up nearly 25% more extension counters. The decision was taken to reduce the rush at the existing counters. In fact, the civil supplies department launched the second phase after meticulous planning. Ration coupons, with date and time of ration distribution, were distributed among beneficiaries two days ago. Although, computer kept lagging due to technical glitches, village and ward secretaries ensured that no beneficiary had to wait for long for their ration. A few cardholders said that the ration was distributed by taking the coupon back from the beneficiary without waiting for the completion of authentication on the EPoS.Meanwhile, the civil supplies authorities distributed five kilograms of Bengal gram and rice to the ration card holders in Vijayawada on Thursday.While, 155 fair price shops door-delivered the ration in red-zones, 63 shops gave away ration through the token system. Officials arranged for tents and drinking water at fair price shops for the people. Social distancing was strictly followed and biometric was used for verification.Civil supplies minister Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao (Nani) monitored the exercise across the state.