DMRC collected Rs. 38L as fines for sitting on train-floor
Delhi Metro collected Rs. 38L as fines over 11 months from those caught sitting on the floor of the train, a Right to Information (RTI) reply said. The total amount collected from fines for offenses, including littering, creating a nuisance, traveling with undervalued tokens, from Jun'17-May'18 is Rs. 90L. Of this, the highest amount, Rs. 38 lakh, was collected for squatting on the floor.
Over 50,000 people were fined in these 11 months
An estimated 19,026 people were fined for sitting on the floor of the train, which according to the DMRC rules is not in line with public etiquette and attracts a penalty of Rs. 200. According to the DMRC, 51,441 people were fined from June last year till May this year. The Yellow Line saw the maximum fine being collected, which is Rs. 39,20,220.
Fined for traveling on the roof of the train
One case of traveling on the roof of a train was also recorded on the Metro's Blue Line for which the offender was charged Rs. 50.
Passengers with long commute hours don't agree with the fines
Some passengers say they don't understand why they should be fined for sitting on the floor. Dipika Bhatia, a daily commuter from Dwarka to Noida, takes around 1.5hrs to reach home by metro. "I just don't have the strength to stand after a long day at work," she said, admitting that she knows it is an offense but doesn't understand the reason behind it.
Some get disturbed with passengers sitting on train floor
Saranya Kumar, a frequent commuter on the Yellow Line to Gurugram, however, tends to side with the DMRC. "If people are feeling unwell, they can ask people to get up. I have seen that most people vacate seats if you have a genuine reason," she said, noting that it gets very difficult to accommodate people during rush-hours when people are sitting on the floor.
Offenses you must not commit while traveling in Delhi Metro
The DMRC's operations are governed by rules and regulations based on the Metro Railway (Operations and Maintenance) Act. The Offenses and Penalties section of the Act includes drunkenness or nuisance in Metro railway premises, penalties for carrying offensive material, defacing property, counterfeiting tickets, and endangering the safety of persons traveling by Metro by rash or negligent act or omission.
