Making Sure Peace Prevails On Public Transport
In the best of times, public spaces in India are a cacophonous riot, swamped by the noise of incessant honking, rattling vehicles on bad roads, vendors on megaphones and music playing from loudspeakers. Loud construction equipment operates late into the night in many cities. Some of that discordance is carried over to public transport, including quiet Metro carriages and air-conditioned train and…
In India, public spaces are often chaotic due to noise from honking vehicles, vendors, and loudspeakers. This cacophony extends to public transportation, including Metro trains and buses, where some passengers play music or videos through mobile loudspeakers, disturbing others. The Bengaluru and Chennai Metro Rail, along with Southern Railway, have introduced penalties for such behavior, with fines of ₹2,500 and ₹1,000, respectively.
However, enforcing these rules remains challenging. In some cities, bus drivers use boomboxes to play music, and the amended Motor Vehicles Act has not been effective. The issue is not unique to India, as London has imposed a £100 fine for "loudcasting," and New York has a $25 fine for media devices, though enforcement is rare. To increase compliance, awareness campaigns through mass media and information screens at stations are recommended.
Targeting students and young people through educational messages may be more effective. Other potential measures include providing headphones at the spot of violation or leveraging announcements from police to emphasize the seriousness of the issue. Despite these efforts, some passengers may view headphones as an unnecessary expense, but the pursuit of quieter travel remains worthwhile.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
