Fake complaint penalties spark fears of under-reporting real issues

Bhopal: The Bhopal Railway Division has launched a campaign warning of action against passengers filing baseless grievances, with penalties for proven fake complaints aimed at reducing pressure on the system and prioritising genuine issues. Officials said the move is meant to streamline redressal. , with PRO (Bhopal division) Nawal Agarwal stating, "Frivolous complaints waste resources and delay real solutions." The drive also includes public awareness and social media messages urging commuters to "think before you complain." The initiative, however, has drawn criticism from passengers who fear it may discourage genuine reporting of issues like delays, overcrowding and poor maintenance. "Why risk penalties when you can't be sure they'll believe you?" said commuter Utkarsh Naik. Critics point to rising passenger volumes—Bhopal Division handles over 150 parts of trains daily—as the root cause of issues, not fake reports. "Are the resolution rate upto the mark. I don't think so. Let the people complaint and if there is any fake complaint the passnger must given warning rather than punishment," said Arti Saxena, a daily passenger. Officials maintain the campaign targets only "malicious" filings, not honest feedback. A helpline for verifying complaints has been activated, they added.