07 March,2022 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
As part of the anti-smoking safety drive, both CR and WR have launched an extensive campaign on social media platforms. Representation Pic
A suprise drive against smokers in trains and at stations of both Central and Western railway zones amount to have yielded fines in lakhs of rupees. On Central Railway, the anti-smoking safety drive was launched in Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, Bhusaval and Nagpur divisions... and was conducted from February 24 to March 3, said CR chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the ticket checking staff caught 751 commuters on trains and railway premises and collected fines of R1,40,900, under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA) and Section 167 of the Railways Act, he added. The fine is Rs 200 under COTPA and Rs 100 under the Railways Act.
"Mumbai division has set an example of discipline and law enforcement with recovery of R61,600 from 313 offenders, followed by Bhusawal division with Rs 35,300 from 194 cases, Nagpur division with Rs 19,800 from 104 cases, Pune division with Rs 14,100 from 74 cases and Solapur division with Rs 10,100 from 66 cases," Sutar said.
"On the Western Railway, the anti-smoking safety drive was launched at the Mumbai headquarters, and at its six divisions: Mumbai Central, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Ratlam," WR chief public relations officer Sumit Thakur said.
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"In the first three days, Feb 24 to Feb 27, a total of 126 people were detected and a penalty of Rs 21,000 recovered... This includes 17 cases and penalty of Rs 3,400 from Headquarters' Flying Squad, 12 cases and penalty of Rs 2,400 from Mumbai division, 11 cases and penalty of Rs 1,100 from Vadodara division, 21 cases and penalty of Rs 3,400 from Ahmedabad division, 23 cases and penalty of Rs 2,500 from Rajkot division, 17 cases and penalty of R1,700 from Bhavnagar division, and 25 cases and penalty of Rs 6,500 from Ratlam division," Thakur said.
As part of the anti-smoking safety drive, both CR and WR have also launched an extensive campaign on social media platforms. They are also ensuring repeated announcements at all railway stations to create awareness about the ill-effects and dangers of smoking in trains and on the railway premises.
