In the City of Nawabs, security officials deployed at the Lucknow Metro stations are on a task to sniff out tobacco from commuters and have weeded out over 20 kg of tobacco products in the first two days of its launch.
Metro passengers in the city have been trying various tricks to smuggle tobacco and related products inside coaches.
“Habitual users are not ready to give up and try to smuggle in pan masala and other products in their pockets, socks and belts,” a security personnel deployed at the Charbagh Metro Station said. “During frisking, Metro officials were able to seize approximately 20 kg of tobacco and other related items from commuters,” LMRC MD Kumar Keshav said.
The confiscated items will be handed over to the municipal corporation for disposal.
“The Lucknow Metro is a green and environment friendly public transport and it is our duty to keep it clean. The efforts of the LMRC and the public will definitely help in keeping metro a clean public transport,” the MD said.
The excuse many of those caught offered was that they were not aware that tobacco products were not allowed inside the metro.
“Three out of every five commuters were carrying a tobacco product. It is a difficult task to check all of them. But we are on our toes and committed to keeping the metro clean,” a security member said.
The 8.5-km-long ‘Priority Corridor’ from Transport Nagar to Charbagh, which is part of the Phase 1 of the project, operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
Over 32,000 passengers had boarded Lucknow Metro on the first day of the commercial run on September 6.
The number came down to over 28,000 on the second day.
The LMRC has set a target to complete the entire 23-km track from Amausi to Munshipulia by March 2019.
This includes a 3.5-km underground track between Hussainganj and Hazratganj.