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Bengaluru Metro: Tobacco Use & Spitting To Attract Fines; Passengers To Be Randomly Checked For Gutka

BMRCL will carry out random physical pat-downs during non-peak hours.

by Sanjana Shenoy
Bengaluru Metro: Tobacco Use & Spitting To Attract Fines; Passengers To Be Randomly Checked For Gutka

For long, Bengaluru metro passengers have complained about fellow passengers chewing and spitting tobacco in trains and metro stations. A recent video on X (formerly Twitter) went viral of a Namma Metro passenger emptying a packet of chewable tobacco. To tackle the growing nuisance of chewable tobacco, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced strict measures, including fines.

Bengaluru Metro To Take Strict Action Against Passengers Carrying Chewable Tobacco

Picture Credits: Canva Pro

As per a report by Hindustan Times, BMRCL has stepped up its battle against chewable tobacco products, consumed, spotted and littered in metro stations and trains. From April 23 onwards, BMRCL will carry out random physical pat-downs during non-peak hours. Moreover, the metro authorities have imposed strict fines on passengers violating the new rules.

Tobacco packets cannot be detected during regular metal detector screenings. So, pat-downs or physical checks will be conducted by officials to catch violators. Moreover, CCTV footage will be used to monitor passengers. If any passenger is spotted consuming tobacco, spitting or littering the premises with tobacco products, the on-ground staff will take immediate action.

Also Read: Good News, Indore! Almost 17 Km Stretch Of Indore Metro To Open To Public By This Date

Spitting & Littering Metro Premises With Pan Will Attract Fines

This CCTV footage will be utilised to prevent rule-breaking. A BMRCL announcement read that passengers found consuming tobacco-based products would be fined as per the metro rule. Littering and spitting would attract similar consequences. To tackle this menace of an issue, BMRCL will introduce an awareness campaign across all metro stations in Bengaluru. The campaign will create awareness on how tobacco products cause health, hygiene and cleanliness-related issues. Spitting and littering on the metro premises can cause serious issues like pollution and public nuisance.

A viral video posted on X on April 18 by user Madhan Reddy was a wake-up call for Namma Metro. The video showed a pan chewing pan masala as Reddy prompted him to quickly have water and swallow the pan instead of spitting and littering the premises. The Netizen demanded special scanners at the security check to tackle this issue.

Also Read: Mumbai Metro One Receives Backlash From Animal Lovers For Forcibly Relocating Stray Kittens From Saki Naka Metro Station

Now that Namma Metro has imposed fines on violators, passengers will think twice before carrying a packet of gutka with them in the metro stations and trains.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro and Wikimedia Commons

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First Published: April 23, 2025 6:28 PM