Commuters who create a ruckus inside the Delhi Metro will no longer be let off quickly from now on.
The draft Metro Rail (Construction, Operation and Maintenance) Bill, 2017 sent to the law ministry by the Union housing and urban development ministry has introduced strict rules and regulations for passengers.
It also contains clauses for the manner in which Metro projects are built and fares revised.
The fines start from 1,000 for littering and go up to 50,000 plus four-year jail term for carrying ‘dangerous materials’ inside the premises. The bill also proposes punishment for “any act of sabotage with the intent to cause death”, which could lead to a life term or even death sentence.
Anyone riding in an intoxicated state, using abusive language or picking fights with other passengers in the Metro premises would have to pay a fine of ₹5,000. According to Hindustan Times, staffers too will be subjected to stiffer fines with ₹10,000 for general offences and ₹30,000 and jail term of up to two years if their offence endangers passengers.
After the controversy over the hiked fares, the bill suggests a permanent authority be set up to revise metro fares whenever required, reports HT.
If the bill is cleared by the law ministry, it will have to go to the cabinet for approval before it is tabled in Parliament.
The bill will also give the Centre the power to appoint commissioners of metro rail safety, who will inspect new projects and determine if they are workable. Currently, these are often delayed due to red tape.
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