According to GRP officers, a number of complaints pertaining to noise created by bhajan singers on local trains were received by commuters on long distance trains.
Statistics by the Government Railway Police (GRP) has revealed that as many as 541 people have been booked in the last four years for creating noise pollution by singing bhajans on local trains. Between 2014 and March 2017, the GRP has booked 281 persons on the Central Railway (CR) stretch and 260 persons on the Westerin Railway (WR) stretch for singing bhajans on trains.
According to GRP officers, a number of complaints pertaining to noise created by bhajan singers on local trains were received by commuters on long distance trains.
Most complaints along the CR stretch were received by commuters travelling on trains from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Kalyan, Dombivli, Badlapur and Titwala.
On the WR stretch, complaints were received by commuters on trains originating from Churchgate to Virar and Dahanu.
The Mumbai Railway Commissionerate has since 2016 posted 17 dedicated Noise Pollution Control Officers at the various railway police divisions. "We are not able to take action against singers who enter trains and sing bhajans during rush hour as trains are overcrowded. Also, forceful action may tantamount to a law and order issue," said a senior GRP officer.
The officer added: "We are able to seize the instruments. We may also book them under section 110 (creating nuisance) of the Maharashtra Police
Amendment Act. Sometimes, we fine them Rs 1,200 and let them off. Repeat offenders are dealt with strictly," said the officer.
Niket Kaushik, Mumbai Railway Commissioner said, "We have instructed officers to take strict action against people creating nuisance on trains."
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