METRO IMPOSES FINE ON PASSENGERS WITHOUT MASKS

HnExpress Sitaram Agarwal, Kolkata : Metro Authorities are running awareness campaigns ‘No Mask, No Metro’ for educating commuters about the importance of wearing masks in order to battle Corona Virus and to stop the spread of the deadly disease.

Regular announcements are made and RPF and other Metro staff are also interacting with the passengers in stations and trains over the past few weeks. In accordance with the provisions laid down in the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and under instructions from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), guidelines have been issued for the containment of COVID-19 in the country.

Under the guidelines, apart from observing social distancing in crowded places, especially in markets, weekly markets and public transport, wearing of face masks is an essentially preventive measure necessary for containing the spread of this infection. In this regard, SOP issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be strictly enforced to regulate travel in aircrafts, trains and metro rails.

Maintaining the above guidelines, any person violating or not wearing the mask will be liable to be fined as per the provision of the above mentioned Disaster Management Act, 2005 like imposition of a fine up to Rs. 200. Based o­n the above instructions, Metro railway authority has decided to impose a fine of Rs. 200 o­n the erring commuters to ensure strict enforcement of this core requirement.
Posters are also o­n display at Metro stations to make commuters aware about the imposition of the fine.