Lucknow Metro: 20 kg tobacco seized on Day 1

LUCKNOW: More than 20 kg tobacco products and cigarettes were seized from commuters during security checks on the first day of Metro's commercial run on Wednesday.Besides seizure of tobacco products, lighters and match boxes, commuters chewing pan masala were told to spit it before entering the concourse. Out of eight operational Metro stations, maximum pan masala packets, weighing 6kg, were seized at Charbagh Metro station, followed by Transport Nagar Metro station where items weighing 4kg were confiscated. “My friends and I were not aware that tobacco products are banned inside Metro. When the security personnel told us, we handed the pan masala packets to them and then boarded Metro,“ said Neeraj Kumar, a commuter.Dilip Singh Pawar, chief security officer of eight Metro stations, said, on an average, three out of five persons arriving at the stations either had tobacco packets or were chewing tobacco. “This was because most of the people were not aware that tobacco products are not allowed inside Metro. However, most of them were cooperative and readily gave away the items,“ he said.Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation managing director Kumar Keshav said, “I'm happy that people of Lucknow are cooperative. We faced this problem because most of them were unaware about ban on tobacco products. At our end, we are making efforts to tell people about dos and don'ts in Metro. All efforts will be made from our end to keep the public transport clean and comfortable.“Times ViewThe Metro coming to Lucknow, only the seventh in the country, is a big achievement for the city. But, the pride and comfort (of a fast and clean public transport) come with great responsibility. People in Lucknow need to realize that using the Metro entails maintaining cleanliness at the stations and inside the coaches. Across the world, and in India, people have taken great care of their own Metro, being careful not to overcrowd the coaches (and wait for the next train if they are packed), not to litter, spew paan or gutkha and scribble on walls of coaches. The newest mode of transport in this heritage city will lose its meaning if “Metro etiquette“ is not followed.