RailEnquiry

With its awareness efforts failing to produce desired results, the Vadodara division of Western Railway (WR) has decided to impose a fine of Rs 200 on those found littering on platforms at the city railway station.

“We had put up display boards and LCD screens seeking passengers’ cooperation in maintaining cleanliness on platforms. However, this did not help much. So, now we have decided to implement provisions of the Railway Act and fine those found littering,” said Uday Shankar Jha, senior divisional commercial manager (DCM), Vadodara.

Under sections 145 (b) and 145(c) of the Railways Act 1989, a person can be fined up to Rs 500 and/or jailed for up to six months.

“The provision of fine has been there but it was not implemented properly. However, the situation warrants its strict implementation. There will be at least 15 ticket checkers on duty at any time at the station. They will catch the offenders,” said Jha. He said they had conducted a drive of going behind offenders in March this year and had fined 15 persons. However, the drive had to be abandoned for shortage of manpower.

Officials said a private firm was roped in to mechanically clean the seven platforms at the station but this was found insufficient. The division is paying Rs 4.5 lakh per month to the firm.