Mumbai: Commuters, who make a difference through their noble work, are being honoured by the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), which operates the Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar metro line, with a ‘Metro Hero’ award. For example, if a commuter finds an unknown wallet or a bag in a metro train or in its premises and hands it over to the metro staffer, she/he gets felicitated for the good work.
In one of its interesting cases recently, Sujit Vishwakarma, a regular commuter, found a wallet containing Rs 12,500 cash, along with debit and credit cards in it, at Ghatkopar Metro station, outside the station manager’s office. Sujit immediately approached a metro staffer and informed them about the wallet.
The metro team checked the wallet and found the commuter’s mobile number written on a small chit kept inside the wallet. They called the commuter who confirmed that he had lost his wallet. He reached Ghatkopar station and collected his wallet from the security team after confirming his identity. As Sujit Vishwakarma showed his concern towards a fellow commuter, he was honoured with the ‘Metro Hero’ award.
In another such case, a commuter named Royston Sequeira was seen picking up some litter in one of the metro trains at Ghatkopar station and disposing of in a nearby dustbin. This incident was spotted by a staff member who recommended his name for Metro Hero award. Royston’s sense of responsibility and act of kindness to keep the metro clean made him a Metro Hero.
Similarly, Bharti Shetty had recently found an abandoned cell phone in a metro train at Versova. On realising that someone might have forgotten it there, Shetty along with her friends contacted the customer care at the station and handed over the phone.
According to MMOPL, the aim of running this unique initiative called ‘Metro Hero’ is a gesture to honour and encourage commuters, who go out of their way in making Mumbai metro one the safest and most preferred mode of public transport. Interestingly, so far the authority has identified and felicitated more than 50 commuters for their good work.
A metro spokesperson said, “Metro Hero is a unique initiative, conceptualised by Mumbai Metro One to appreciate the goodwill gesture of commuters and their participation in making the system commuter-friendly. Any responsible commuter, who contributes in improving safety, security, service efficiency, cleanliness and discipline of Mumbai Metro One are our Metro Heroes.”
Interestingly, the selection of Metro Hero is done through a democratic process as per MMOPL. In fact, anyone from the station staff is authorised to identify and recognise metro heroes.
