Stricter execution of rules will ensure smoke-free public transport in city.
The Smoke Free Mumbai Campaign in collaboration with the Mumbai Motor Vehicle department, Mumbai Traffic department and Mumbai Taximen Union and Mumbai Taxi Association flagged their campaign on Tuesday.
As per the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA) and the Motor Vehicle Act, violators will be fined Rs300. “If a passenger finds the driver smoking, he can call on the toll free number— 1800220110- and register the complaint. The driver also can object to any passenger smoking,” said MT Jadhav, regional transport commissioner. The taxi drivers will be given a sticker authorised by the RTO saying ‘No Smoking’ inside the taxi.
“We will educate our men to give up the habit of smoking. We are also telling them to use the sticker and point out every time the passenger is not listening. We will also complain to the authorities if the passenger is relentless,” said Prem Singh, president of the Mumbai Taxi Association.
According to Dr Surendra Shastri, chairperson of Smoke Free Mumbai Campaign and head of Preventive Oncology Department at Tata Memorial Hospital, “Second hand smoking is harmful or even more than direct smoking. It is unfortunate that details of the medical harm caused by it are not known to the public. Strict implementation of the COTPA rules should ensure smoke-free public transport in Mumbai.”
“We had already kicked off our campaign for BEST buses. Now we want to make taxis smoke free,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, head and neck surgeon and associate professor at Tata Memorial hospital. “We support the cause and pledge our support to spreading awareness about the harmful effects of smoking,” said AL Quadros, the president of Mumbai Taximen Union.
Stickers informing passengers about the smoke-free laws and fines will be displayed permanently in English, Marathi and Hindi languages. The taxi drivers will receive these stickers free of cost as part of the campaign. Volunteers will be stationed at each RTO, who will be educating the taxi drivers about the law and putting up the stickers. Total of 2,00,000 stickers have been printed so far. The campaign will continue throughout the year.
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