‘Anything but ban paan masala’: Mumbai Metro’s ‘spit bin’ makes some queasy

Commuters of Mumbai Metro now have a designated spot to carry out an activity they are usually discouraged from doing in public - spitting. A "spit bin" has been installed at a station, offering a specific place for this activity. However, this move has raised eyebrows as Metro rules stipulate that spitting on the premises can lead to a fine of Rs 500.

A photograph posted by X user Zoru Bhathena has captured the attention of netizens with a caption "My Mumbai Metro, Now with dedicated Spitting Zones". The image displays a touchless bin installed at the station, adorned with logos of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maha Mumbai Metro. The sign above the bin exclaims "Be responsible".

It is dubbed the "world's first defined place to spit", complete with instructions in Marathi and English on how commuters are expected to use it. The bin is designed by Ezyspit, a company focused on solutions to manage public spitting. It claims to "lock viruses in 10 seconds". The post has ignited a discussion online, with some users seeing it as a practical solution for a common public habit, while others are critical, questioning if a designated spitting area goes against the Metro's own rules.

One user remarked, "This is so wrong. There should be no spitting in the first place. I have visited about 112 countries from super rich to pathetically poor one, but I never found a single person anywhere in the world spitting in public." Another commented, "Nice! Hope the instructions are clear. How low to bend to spit. Where to stand while spitting.

Interested to see the same picture in one week." A third user quipped, "They'll do anything BUT ban paan masaala."