The Hindu : New Delhi News : Flying squads for Metro trains

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Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
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Flying squads for Metro trains

Staff Reporter

Will penalise those indulging in cheating, misbehaving, squatting and littering

Photo: V.V. Krishnan

ON THE JOB: The flying squad in action inside a Delhi Metro train on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is all set to get cracking against offenders. Starting Wednesday, the Corporation is going to depute four flying squads to identify and penalise those travelling with undervalued tokens, persons caught misbehaving, squatting, littering or damaging Metro property.

By 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the flying squads had nabbed two passengers travelling without ticket, 102 for overriding token zones, 256 for occupying seats reserved for ladies, 121 for occupying seats reserved for senior citizens, 228 for squatting and 63 for leaning against the train doors.According to senior DMRC officials, the special inspection squads will conduct surprise checks to identify offenders inside Metro trains and stations.

“DMRC has formed four flying squads for the purpose and designated them as Alpha, Beta, Charlie and Delta teams. Each team will consist of five members -- a station manager, a station controller, a Central Industrial Security Force functionary and two private security guards. The flying squads will carry hand-held token readers to check the validity and value of tokens, and those who are found travelling with tokens of less value or overstaying inside the system will be fined Rs.50 on the spot as per the provisions of the Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002,” said DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal.Passengers are expected to exit the Metro system within two hours of entering it.

The flying squads will also check for incidents of squatting inside trains, misbehaviour, nuisance, occupation of seats reserved for the elderly or ladies, eating or drinking on Metro premises, obstruction of doors, playing music at high volume and spitting, littering or defacing of Metro property.

“They will also ensure that all commuters de-board the trains at terminal stations to prevent commuters from travelling in the opposite direction to that for which they have tokens,” said Mr. Dayal.

Penal action will be taken against those who do not follow the instructions of the flying squads or refuse to pay fine.

Such persons, the DMRC official cautioned, can be de-boarded and handed over to the Delhi Metro Police as per procedure.

“Under the O&M Act, causing nuisance on Metro property is punishable by fine up to Rs.500 and forfeiture of token or smart card. Obstructing a Metro official from carrying out his duties is punishable by imprisonment up to one year or fine up to Rs.1,000 or both while damage to Metro property can lead to imprisonment up to 10 years,” Mr. Dayal said.

Passengers facing any problem inside trains can contact the train operator over the Passenger Emergency Alarm system.

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