Playing loud music without headphones, reserved seats hogging, and eating food in the middle of the journey - these are some of the common complaints that
commuters face daily in Bengaluru Metro and has accounted for more than one lakh cases violations in just past year. These astonishing high numbers have now prompted Namma Metro authorities to launch a commuter etiquette drive and penalise those who violate these instructions. In the last year alone, 57,538 passengers were found playing loud music, 37,038 occupying reserved seats, 1,907 eating inside trains, and 1,677 consuming tobacco products like gutka and paan. Even after repeated warnings and even fines, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said that violations of these kinds occur daily, often leading to arguments and even scuffle among commuters. In several instances, metro security staff had to intervene to stop fights.
Special Awareness Measures Implemented
To counter this, BMRCL has now launched a special drive that will promote commuter etiquette and responsible travel behaviour. Under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, certain offenses that inconvenience fellow passengers are punishable by fines.
Passengers will be reminded that listening to music without headphones, eating food, or consuming tobacco inside trains causes inconvenience to others and as metro trains are shared public spaces, they require collective responsibility from commuters.
Misuse of reserved seating which is another major concern as passengers are frequently found occupying seats meant for pregnant women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others in need, and refusing to vacate them when required can now result in fines.
"Certain actions such as playing loud music, eating food, or chewing tobacco inside metro trains cause inconvenience to co-passengers. It is also a shared civic duty to ensure that priority seating is made available to senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities who require it, " said Namma Metro.
Special teams comprising two Home Guards have been deployed in each metro trains to inform and create awareness among passengers.
