Bangalore Namma Metro: 27,000+ Passenger Violations in Six Months — Loud Music Leads, Civic Sense in Question. Mind Your Behaviour

Bangalore | Karnataka: Over a six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) recorded over 27,000 instances of passenger misconduct across the Namma Metro network. Among the violations, playing loud music inside metro coaches was the most frequent, with 11,922 reported cases. Another 14,162 violations involved commuters occupying priority seats designated for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities. Additionally, 554 cases were related to the consumption of food and beverages inside the trains, and 474 incidents involved passengers carrying oversized or prohibited luggage, all of which disrupted the flow and comfort of daily operations. Though no fines were issued, metro security personnel issued strict warnings to offenders in an effort to curb such behavior. Alongside these disciplinary issues, several incidents of petty theft were reported, including the arrest of pickpockets at busy stations such as Majestic and Cubbon Park. In a more serious breach, metro infrastructure was targeted through cable thefts along viaducts, resulting in service interruptions and financial losses. One such case involved the theft of 64 meters of copper wire, valued at over ₹1 lakh. BMRCL has urged passengers to act responsibly and respect metro guidelines to ensure a safe and orderly commuting environment. With daily ridership now exceeding 7.6 lakh, officials have expressed concern about the growing need for civic discipline. They have also begun deploying more security personnel and public announcements to raise awareness. While the agency is not currently issuing penalties, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of introducing fines for repeat violators to protect public infrastructure and enhance commuter experience.