PMC to impose fines on those spitting at public places

Patna: In a bold move to keep the city clean, beautiful, and citizen-friendly, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) announced strict action against people who spit in public places after consuming paan, gutka, or other tobacco products.Officials warned that anyone caught spitting in open areas will now face a fine of Rs500 on the spot. In addition, their photographs will be displayed on Variable Message Display (VMD) screens installed across the city, and they will be categorised as “Nagar Shatru” (enemy of the city).The campaign kicked off on the directions of the municipal commissioner-cum-managing director of Patna Smart City Limited, Yashpal Meena.

He emphasised that the habit of spitting in public severely affects the city’s cleanliness, aesthetics, and public health. “Unchecked spitting on roads, flyovers, intersections, and other public spaces turns many areas into ‘red spots’, necessitating these tough measures,” he said on Monday.Patna’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) will play a key role in enforcement. The city has around 3,300 cameras installed at approximately 415 locations, all connected to the ICCC near Gandhi Maidan for round-the-clock monitoring.

The commissioner instructed the ICCC to identify offenders who spit or litter on roads and display their images on VMD screens as “Nagar Shatru”. “Strict action will also be taken against those urinating in public, with on-the-spot fines imposed by PMC enforcement teams. In a recent drive, fines were already collected from nearly 250 people caught spitting inside the underground subway connecting the Multi-Modal Hub to Patna Junction,” he said.