NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old man was arrested in April for creating a ruckus inside a Delhi Metro train by drinking alcohol and eating eggs. It eventually turned out it was only in pretence in an attempt to go viral on social media. It is not the lone instance. Delhi Metro has recorded over 12,000 cases of unacceptable behaviour in the past two years. Botherations include passengers making reels, littering, quarrelling and misbehaving with train staff.The latest Delhi Metro Rail Corporation data shows 6,169 cases of nuisance in the 2024-25 financial year and 6,183 in 2023-24, most of them falling under Section 59 of the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act. Apart from such nuisance, the network also recorded 745 cases in 2024-25 of unlawful entry and walking on metro tracks, prohibited under Section 64 of the DMRC Act. The number of such cases was 1,043 in 2023-24. In the past few years, there has been a spate of videos on social media showing passengers recording reels inside the trains and at stations, causing inconvenience to other commuters.“DMRC expects its commuters to behave responsibly while using the Delhi Metro and follow all social etiquette and protocols that are acceptable in society,” said Anuj Dayal, principal executive director, corporate communications, DMRC. “Commuters should also follow prevalent dos and don’ts while travelling by metro for their own and co-passengers’ safety, comfort and convenience. They shouldn’t indulge in any activity that is against the rules and regulations.“
Dayal said that from time to time, DMRC launched special awareness drives on this matter. “Offenders are liable for penalty or removal from the metro train under the Operations & Maintenance Act,” he added.Though DMRC has been running campaigns and displaying messages at metro stations like ‘do not make reels and cause discomfort’, unsavoury incidents continue to be reported. DMRC has been appealing to commuters to inform them when they notice unruly or prohibited behaviour in the trains rather than make videos of the incidents. “Commuters should inform the train operator if they spot anything objectionable or anyone creating a nuisance inside a train,” a metro official said. “Security or DMRC staff at the next arriving station will immediately take necessary action. Passengers can also seek help at the helpline number 155370.”In an effort to disseminate information in a creative manner, DMRC has used terms familiar to reel makers to educate them. Signboards saying ‘STOP making reels’, ‘don’t PLAY loud music in metro premises’ and ‘PAUSE – let passengers deboard first’ are prominently displayed on platforms or at concourse levels across the network.
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