Now, heavier fines for smoking in premises of Delhi railway stations

New Delhi: The next time you are at any railway station in the Capital and want to light up a cigarette, be ready to face stricter penalty, as Delhi Railway Police will, from Monday, impose a fine of Rs 200 on persons found smoking with the Capital's railway premises.

On the directions of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railway) Dinesh Kumar Gupta, personnel of Delhi's seven railway police stations were recently imparted training on the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), with assistance from two NGOs.

All officers were also administered an oath not to consume tobacco.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Railway) Meera Sharma told all police personnel that consuming tobacco in any form is a social evil and one can quit and make others quit with strong will power.

"We have to do this work together and it would be better that first we quit this habit," Sharma said, and instructed officers to issue challans under COTPA if people are found smoking within railway premises.

She also asked personnel to put 'No Smoking' signs as per law at all railway stations and railway police stations.

Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in public places.

Officers of New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Anand Vihar, Sabji Mandi, Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Cantonment railway police have been instructed about it.

In Delhi, 25 lakh people (17.8 per cent) people use tobacco products in some form.

Each day, at least 81 children start using tobacco in Delhi, while across the country, 5,500 children start using tobacco every day and most get addicted.