Pasting of unauthorised posters mars the aesthetics in several railway stations

The menace of unauthorised pasting of posters is not only prevalent at bus stops and public places in the Chennai Corporation limits, but is also rather prominent in railway stations and suburban trains. The pasting of posters, , mars the appearance of several railway stations in the city, even as officials at these stations fear removing the posters due to their sensitive nature.

While large posters by trade unions mar the appearance of the railway stations, smaller posters from commercial institutions dot the coaches of the electric multiple units (EMUs). Several railway stations, including Guindy, Saidapet, Perambur Loco, Beach, Kodambakkam, and Thirumullaivoyal in and around the city, all have unauthorised posters adorning their walls, spoiling the aestethics and overall look. Even when these posters are removed, they leave lasting glue stains on the walls.

P. Balaraman, who regularly commutes from Guindy to Avadi, said unauthorised posters — mostly by railway trade unions and, in some places, political parties — are pasted in Saidapet railway station. This station is currently being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, incidentally. In some stations including Perambur Loco and Hindu College, posters of private functions are also installed near the railway tracks or on the walls of public conveniences.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the Southern Railway, which creates awareness about Swachh Bharat by organising Swachhta Pakhwada campaigns to keep railway stations clean, should similarly create awareness among railway staff and various union members to avoid pasting posters on railway premises. He said announcements through the public address systems installed in stations should also be used to spread awareness.

A senior official of the Chennai Division said that pasting posters in suburban trains or at railway stations is a punishable offence carrying fines under Section 166 of the Railway Act, 1989, and is enforced by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The RPF has been conducting a sustained campaign to remove unauthorised posters from railway premises, with nearly 30 cases filed against offenders. Regarding the posters put up by trade unions, the railway official said the Southern Railway, based on the advice of the Railway Board, has allotted separate spaces in various railway stations for recognised trade unions to display union-related information and would soon take steps to enforce this.