Title - Rs 100 fine for spitting on station premises

BHUBANESWAR: Your habit of chewing pan might cost you dear on railway premises. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has decided to impose fine between Rs 30 and Rs 100 on those who spit in railway stations and trains under its jurisdiction.A fine of Rs 100 will be collected at 'A-1 Class' stations like Bhubaneswar, Puri and Visakhapatnam; Rs 50 at 'A Class' stations such as Bhadrak, Berhampur, Cuttack, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Khurda Road, Palasa, Rayagada, Srikakulam Road, Vizianagaram and Sambalpur while Rs 30 will be charged at remaining stations under ECoR jurisdiction. All station managers have been asked to maintain cleanliness on station premises and would be accountable if any station is found littered, an official release stated.ECoR has also started an anti-spitting awareness drive at different stations to keep the railway premises spic and span. "The drive is being conducted in compliance with the Gazette Notification of November 26, 2012 and penalty provision of Indian Railways Rule-2012," said a senior railway officer. According to the Railway Act, anyone who spits on railway premises is liable to pay fine.As per the rule, throwing or deposit of litter in any occupied and unoccupied railway premises is strictly prohibited. "It is also a punishable offence to paste or put up posters in compartments, carriages and station premises," the railway officer said.

Authorised vendors and hawkers have been asked to keep containers and bins for garbage disposal. "Violation of any of the provisions will amount to punishment with a fine up to Rs 500," the official release said.

Station managers, ticket collectors of commercial department or equivalent rank of operating department and officials authorized by railways for the purpose of implementing these rules have been designated to collect penalties.