46 Mumbai stations now eco-smart, can collect instant fines from polluters

At eco-smart stations like CSMT, even RPF personnel can take action against polluters. File Pic/Suresh Karkera

Forty-six stations in the city have been given the eco-smart tag by the National Green Tribunal, the Central Railway said on Friday. An eco-smart station works on ‘polluter pays' principle, which means litterers will be asked to cough up fines immediately.

There are 720 eco-smart stations on Indian Railways based upon footfall and station earnings. Of these, CR has the maximum number - 77 - such stations, including the 46 in Mumbai.

As per norms laid down by the National Green Tribunal, hefty fines are imposed on the polluter and eco-smart stations have been given verifiable indicators. "Those littering and dumping garbage at these stations will now have to pay fines instantly. Notified officials like ticket checkers and RPF personnel have been authorised to recover the cost of restoration of the damage to the environment from the polluters in accordance with the law," an official explained.

"The rules mandate all vendors and hawkers to make necessary arrangements to keep containers or waste baskets for collecting litter and calls for proper disposal of its contents," he said.

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"The rules also mandate water and energy audits, upgrading the cleanliness contracts, monitoring of cleanliness by CCTV, composting plants at stations and bottle crushing machines," he added.

Major stations among the 46 include CSMT, Kurla LTT, Dadar, Kalyan, Panvel. On Western Railway, Mumbai Central had become the first station in Mumbai region to have a ‘Polluter Pays' policy in place.

More buses for Raksha bandhan, but railways decides to organise mega blocks

The BEST undertaking late Friday announced 221 additional buses for Raksha Bandhan on Sunday, though the railways, both Central and Western Railway, decided to take up maintenance work and mega blocks curtailing existing services. Commuters complained that the mega blocks would hamper commuter movement on the festive day and that the railways always had a disconnect with local festivals. Senior officials said there was no plan as of now to run any additional services and that blocks had already been announced. A BEST spokesperson said the undertaking would run 221 buses on about 80 routes from 24 bus depots.