The railway administration has been cracking the whip on those people indulging in acts that impacts on cleanliness at railway stations. Violators are now liable to pay penalties ranging from ₹200 to ₹500.
The number of passengers found affecting cleanliness was more at Tiruchi Junction as compared to other major stations in the Tiruchi railway division if the statistics is any indication. The penalties were being collected by the Railway Protection Force and the Commercial Department.
Railway sources said the Railway Protection Force personnel at Tiruchi Junction Post alone had realised a little over ₹ 1 lakh that was collected as penalty from those contravening the provisions of the Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises), Rules 2012 during the 2018-19 financial year. The penalty was imposed for committing offences such as littering.
Similar action has been initiated by the Commercial Department at major stations in Tiruchi division such as Tiruchi Junction, Thanjavur Junction, Villupuram Junction, Mayiladuthurai Junction, Kumbakonam and Puducherry.
Fines amounting to ₹80,000 were collected from over 350 passengers at these stations during the previous financial year, said the sources. The fine amount collected by the Commercial Department was more at Tiruchi Junction as compared to other stations with the figure exceeding ₹ 25,000.
Graded fines
The Southern Railway administration, in a communication issued last year, had spelt out the graded fines on activities affecting cleanliness on railway premises. A fine of ₹200 would be imposed on throwing or depositing litter on railway premises or in rolling stock, occupied or unoccupied.
The penalty for offences, including spitting, urinating and defecating on railway premises, besides using the railway premises for storage/dumping facility is ₹ 300. A fine of ₹500 would be slapped for pasting or putting up any poster, scribbling on walls in railway stations and on railway compartments. The same amount will be imposed for defacing railway property in any other manner.
Teams have been formed to prevent open defecation along tracks, besides nominating officials to tackle polluters of railway land.
