You can’t carry banned plastic items on Central Railway trains and at stations in Mumbai

Travelling on the Central Railway (CR)? Make sure you are not carrying the banned plastic items, as you may have to pay a fine to the railway authorities.

The CR is awaiting a nod from the state and civic body to decide the fine amount. “We will start charging fine from passengers and vendors found using the banned plastic products. We have written to the state and are awaiting their nod. We plan to follow the rule at all CR stations,” said Shailendra Kumar, chief commercial manager, CR.

Station masters and ticket-checkers will have the powers to charge the fine. Senior railway officials will also conduct surprise checks at railway station stalls.

After the ban was announced, the railways, a major consumer of plastic, held a series of meetings with different stakeholders to find ways to replace plastic.

The railways will also introduce plastic bottle-crushers at stations and on long-distance trains to dispose of plastic bottles, paper cups, plates and disposable cutlery.

The western railway is likely to follow suit.