Patna Metro Stations Defaced with Gutka Stains Days After Inauguration: A Growing Concern for Civic Responsibility

Screengrab of the video displaying red gutka stains splattered across the tracks and wall of the new Patna Metro station.

Just days following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's inauguration of the 3.45-km elevated section of Patna Metro, an online video has emerged, rekindling discussions about civic responsibility in India. The footage, posted by Patna-based vlogger Rounak Agarwal on Instagram, reveals one of the newly opened stations already marred by red gutka stains.

"The Patna Metro has barely been operational for 2-3 days, and already the 'gutka gang' has arrived, leaving red stains across the metro stations and platforms," Agarwal stated in his video.

"People of Bihar should feel ashamed. The government is investing in excellent infrastructure by constructing this metro, and you're defacing it."

Watch the viral video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rounak Agarwal | Patna Vlogger (@_rounak_agarwal_17)

Disclaimer: NDTV cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.

The video has accumulated over 1.1 million views and hundreds of comments, with most users advocating for stringent measures against those responsible.

"Implement a fine of Rs 200-300 for spitting and chewing tobacco. Collect it efficiently to generate revenue," suggested one user, while another commented: "If surveillance cameras are installed, authorities should release images of people spitting and make them clean up their mess."

Another user added: "Cameras should identify litterers and require them to clean up. Until people feel embarrassed by their actions, they won't change their behavior. Even dropping a single piece of trash should result in an hour of street cleaning duty."

The elevated corridor, encompassing three stations—Patliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile, and Bhoothnath—was launched as the "priority corridor" on Monday (Oct 6). Metro services currently operate from 8 am to 10 pm daily, with trains running at 20-minute intervals.

Bihar's Chief Minister also initiated construction for six underground metro stations, including Patna Junction, and a 9.35-km tunnel connecting them as part of corridor 1. The complete Patna Metro system will feature two corridors: Red Line (16.86 km) and Blue Line (14.56 km), totaling 24 stations. Full operations for the first phase are projected to commence by 2027.