In a bid to crack down on objectionable behaviour and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced plans to deploy police personnel to monitor and check for inappropriate behaviour on its trains. This move has been met with mixed reactions from the public.
According to the DMRC, police personnel will be stationed at various Metro stations across the city to keep a watchful eye on commuters and to intervene in cases where passengers are found engaging in inappropriate behaviour such as harassment, eve-teasing, or other forms of misconduct. The DMRC has also stated that it will increase the frequency of CCTV footage scans to identify and take action against unruly passengers.
While some commuters have welcomed the move, others have expressed concern over the potential for overzealous policing and invasion of privacy. A Twitter user, for example, commented, “It’s a good step to ensure safety, but I hope the authorities are mindful of the need to balance safety with privacy.”
This move comes in the wake of several incidents of misconduct on Delhi Metro trains, including instances of groping and other forms of harassment. The DMRC has stated that it is committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment for all passengers and will take all necessary steps to ensure that inappropriate behaviour is not tolerated on its trains.
The police personnel will be deployed in plainclothes to keep a discreet eye on the commuters and will not be armed. They will be tasked with intervening in cases where passengers are found to be engaging in inappropriate behaviour and will have the power to detain and hand over such passengers to the authorities.
Overall, the move has been viewed as a positive step towards ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers on Delhi Metro trains. The DMRC has assured the public that the privacy and dignity of passengers will be respected and that police personnel will only intervene in cases of misconduct. Time will tell whether this move will be effective in curbing objectionable behaviour on the Delhi Metro.
