Mumbai’s Metro Aqua Line 3 is now witnessing booming ridership, with commuters using it to travel between Jogeshwari and Cuffe Parade. This surge in passenger numbers has led to a noticeable drop in cab and BEST bus commuters. There is festive cheer all around, celebrating this new mode of rapid transit.
However, not all is positive. Despite the excitement, issues such as spitting and littering have marred the brand-new Metro system. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro) has banned carrying tobacco, cigarettes, lighters, gas cylinders, alcohol, pet animals, and any other flammable materials on the Metro. Yet, commuters continue to flout these rules, leaving unsightly stains of tobacco spit across stations.
Newly built Metro stations are already losing their pristine appearance due to red marks of tobacco and paan spittle on walls and platforms. This is a worrying trend that we do not want to see replicated across any Metro line in the city.
As commuters, we are often quick to criticize and demand better amenities, and some of these demands are indeed justified. However, there is another side to the story. It is our responsibility to respect the facilities provided to us, as well as our city and country. These systems and infrastructures are developed using our public funds and taxes—so how can we justify defiling them?
From buildings to roads and public transport, this ‘paan pain’ can be seen in various places. While announcements and fines may help curb this behavior, the most powerful solution lies in a change of mindset.
Hygiene, cleanliness, discipline, and adherence to rules need a significant push in India. The prevalent “we-are-like-that-only” attitude must change. Let us start by instilling these values from childhood and make them an integral part of our collective DNA.
Only then can we truly preserve and cherish the public amenities that serve us all.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/lets-show-civic-sense-at-least-on-the-metro-23598413