16/07/2025
While Bandra railway station dons a festive look for the vibrant Station Mahotsav launched on July 5, Western Railway authorities have turned their focus to a persistent problem: spitting and littering. A recent inspection by senior officials during the celebrations revealed fresh paan stains on newly cleaned heritage walls, reviving long-standing concerns over public hygiene at the 19th-century Grade I heritage site.
In response, WR has introduced stricter enforcement measures. Ticket checkers will now issue ₹500 fines—up from ₹200 earlier—to offenders, with support from the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Between April 2024 and January 2025 alone, over 2,300 violations were recorded, collecting nearly ₹6 lakh in fines.
The crackdown was reinforced at the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) meeting on July 10, where passengers raised concerns about cleanliness, loitering, and train punctuality. Officials also confirmed plans to install more CCTVs in trains to deter such behaviour.
Divisional Railway Manager Pankaj Singh, after a personal inspection, expressed dissatisfaction with station upkeep, pulling up contractors for inadequate cleaning. With reduced cleaning staff and rising commuter negligence, WR is now prioritizing on-ground enforcement to restore and preserve the station’s historic charm.
📸 Satish Bate/HT