Delhi High Court on Friday told the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) that not having dustbins on metro platforms due to the fear of bomb blasts is a “very myopic view of security”, as airports and even railway stations have garbage bins.
The court, which directed the DMRC to “examine viability of having spittoons and dustbins on the stations”, also queried it on whether drinking water and toilet facilities were easily available to commuters. “Don’t you have dustbins at airports and bus stationsIJ Can you protect people by not having dustbinsIJ This is a very myopic view of security,” Justice Rajiv Shakdher said.
The court also directed DMRC to indicate on the affidavit how many toilets and drinking water facilities are available at all stations in the Delhi Metro network the and whether the services are generally accessible to commuters. “Show me toilets are available and can be easily accessed. Not telling you to redraw your stations,” the court said to DMRC.
The court also issued notices to the Centre, the Delhi Government and DMRC, seeking their replies by August 11, the next date of hearing. The orders and observations came on plea of one Kush Kalra, a metro commuter who has sought directions to DMRC to provide safe drinking water, toilets and dustbins to passengers of the Delhi metro.
Advocate Kush Sharma, appearing for Kalra, argued that “if a commuter is only travelling with a metro card and no money then he or she will not get water to drink at any of the stations” and alleged this is discrimination between those who have money and those who do not. The court also refused to accept DMRC’s argument that non-availability of toilets and water facilities at all stations is due to the reason that journey on the metro is of short duration. The court asked DMRC, “So what happens if an old or frail person or a child wants to relieve themselves or need drinking waterIJ What about people suffering from medical ailments like diabetesIJ Don’t say only long-distance travel requires toilets.”
DMRC, in response, said staff toilets are available at all the stations for use of commuters during an emergency. To this the court asked whether the toilets are accessible to commuters and who decides that there is an emergent need. It directed the Metro to indicate in the affidavit that the “staff toilets” are available to the general populace. DMRC also said water can be bought at nominal rates at all metro stations from the over 500 food outlets or kiosks.
Sharma opposed the submission saying drinking water should be freely available to all the commuters as this facility is present at all airports, bus stations and railway stations. During the proceedings, the court also told the DMRC, “You don’t know the amount of garbage a human being generates. People may throw stuff on platforms, if there are no dustbins. Why can’t you have them on the platforms and stationsIJ What is the security concernIJ”
DMRC said it had removed dustbins after the 2008 blasts in Delhi apprehending they may be used for dumping bombs. Justice Shakdher, however, was not satisfied by the claim and said,”I am not so sure. Have you received some input from Intelligence agenciesIJ” Kalra in his plea has also sought direction to the Government and DMRC to provide clean drinking water, dustbin facilities and toilets in the future projects of metro.