Gutkha Stains Deface Meerut's New RRTS Station Days After Inauguration
In a disheartening development for public infrastructure, Meerut's newly inaugurated RRTS station on the Delhi–Meerut corridor has been marred by gutkha (tobacco) stains and litter within just five days of its opening. The station, which operates both Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro services, was intended to showcase modern urban transport but has quickly fallen victim to public misuse.
Social Media Video Exposes Station Condition
A video that surfaced on social media on Friday revealed tobacco stains across various parts of the station premises, alongside discarded paper tokens strewn on the floor instead of being properly disposed of in dustbins. The visual evidence has sparked widespread concern about the maintenance of public property and civic responsibility among commuters.
NCRTC's Response and Cleanliness Measures
The corridor is managed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). In response to the incident, NCRTC chief public relations officer Puneet Vats emphasized that cleanliness drives are conducted regularly at station premises and on trains. He noted that regular announcements are made urging commuters to maintain cleanliness and highlighted that violation of norms related to cleanliness and defacement of public property is punishable under relevant legal provisions.
Public Outcry and Commuter Demands
The video triggered sharp reactions online, with netizens condemning the habit of spitting in public places. Commuters have called for stringent actions against offenders:
- Sandhya Khari, a commuter, advocated for heavy fines and bans, suggesting penalties of at least Rs 5,000 and prohibition from entering stations.
- Aryan Pawar, a student commuter, proposed stricter deterrence measures, including using CCTV footage to publicly display images of offenders at the station where violations occur.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining public cleanliness in India's rapidly developing transport infrastructure, raising questions about enforcement and civic awareness as the country advances its urban mobility projects.
