Mumbai: 692 caught spitting and littering at stations

Apart from sweeping platforms, the ground staff expanded the cleanliness campaign and caught people soiling station premises; they collected around Rs 48,000 in fines

On the day of the nationwide launch of the ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan’, aside from ministers inspecting railway station premises and even contributing by sweeping platforms, railway officials conducted a clean-up drive of their own by fining commuters for spitting in, and littering, station premises.

Also read: Mumbai commuters, if you spit at the station, clean it yourselves, says Railways

Education first? Officials said the fines were meant to educate commuters

According to officials from Western Railways (WR), on October 2, railway ground staff caught around 692 people for spitting and littering on platforms and collected approximately R48,200 in fines, which were levied depending on the severity of the offence. “We are fining offenders but, more importantly, we are trying to educate them,” said Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), WR. Sources said that many commuters were caught throwing papers, wrappers and even food on the platforms.

Since the last few days, ground staff can be spotted collecting trash and scrubbing out paan stains at station premises. mid-day had reported on September 19 that the staff members were demanding that railway authorities bring in stricter regulations and penalties for people who litter or soil station premises

Railway employees were also seen sweeping premises at every station. Officials claim nearly 9,000 brooms were used across all Central and Western railway stations.

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