Despite ‘no smoking’ banners put up outside the main gate at Howrah Station, cigarettes are openly being sold at the place. The banners, meanwhile, have been put up at blind spots while commuters are being fined hefty amounts by the GRP. But Railway officials denied responsibility, claiming that the area is within the jurisdiction of the state government, which is supposed to address the problem.

Under a ‘no smoking’ banner, cigarettes and chewing tobacco are being sold outside the main gate of Howrah station. The banner, however, happens to be placed on a tree trunk well above one’s line of sight. One needs to crane one’s neck to spot the banner. However, people are being fined hefty sum of money, at least Rs 400, for smoking by GRP personnel. Daily commuters allege that it’s nothing short of extortion.

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One commuter, who travels from Howrah Station daily, said: “It is difficult for anyone to spot the poster since it has been put up in a blind spot. How can one know that the area is a no smoking zone if they can’t see the banner? People are being fined for smoking without any fault of theirs.”

Another middle-aged man, who was spotted smoking near the main gate and asked whether he was aware that it’s a no smoking zone, said: “How can smoking here be an offense? The cigarettes are being openly sold with no prohibition. Why should smoking here be considered a punishable offense then?”

Sayantan Barua, a college student, said: “The place should be completely tobacco-free because cigarette and chewing tobacco do the same damage.”

Meanwhile, the Howrah station master said: “The area where tobacco items are being sold is not covered under the Railway zone and the entire area is under the supervision and jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police (GRP). I feel so bad when someone chews gutkha and spits it here and there. I have complained many times but the situation has not changed.”

A GRP official, when contacted over the phone, said “We cannot say anything in this regard. You can talk to our top officials about this.” The Howrah bridge pillars have to be enclosed with a metal fence to protect them from gutka stains.