In a decisive move to address worsening public hygiene and civic indiscipline, the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced stringent penalties for people caught spitting in public places after consuming paan, gutka, or other tobacco products.

Offenders will now face an on-the-spot fine of Rs500, and their photographs will be displayed on Variable Message Display (VMD) screens across the city, branding them as “Nagar Shatru” or enemies of the city.

The campaign, launched on the directions of Municipal Commissioner-cum-Managing Director of Patna Smart City Limited, Yashpal Meena, will be enforced using the city’s extensive CCTV surveillance network connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) near Gandhi Maidan.

Officials say the initiative aims to curb unhygienic practices that endanger public health, damage the city’s aesthetics, and undermine ongoing Smart City efforts. The drive also extends to penalising public urination, with enforcement teams already collecting fines from hundreds of violators in recent weeks.

A Surveillance-Backed Push to Rein in Unhygienic Civic Habits

According to PMC officials, the campaign represents one of the city’s most aggressive attempts yet to change entrenched public behaviour that has long plagued Patna’s streets, flyovers, markets, and transit areas.

With around 3,300 CCTV cameras installed at nearly 415 locations, the city is now capable of round-the-clock monitoring, enabling authorities to identify offenders in real time.

The ICCC, which serves as the nerve centre for Patna’s Smart City operations, has been instructed to flag individuals seen spitting or littering in public spaces. Their images will then be displayed on VMD screens installed at prominent locations to serve as a public warning and deterrent.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena said that unchecked spitting has turned several public areas into “red spots”, requiring repeated cleaning and posing health risks to residents and sanitation workers alike.

“Spitting on roads, intersections, flyovers and other public places not only defaces the city but also spreads infections. These tough measures have become necessary to protect public health and maintain the city’s cleanliness,” he stated. PMC enforcement teams have also been empowered to issue fines immediately, signalling zero tolerance for violations.

Background: Smart City Goals, Public Health Concerns and Prior Enforcement Drives

The latest crackdown must be seen in the context of Patna’s broader struggle with civic hygiene and its ambitions under the Smart City Mission. Public spitting, particularly linked to the consumption of smokeless tobacco products, has remained a persistent challenge despite awareness campaigns and periodic enforcement.

Officials point out that stained pavements, walls and public infrastructure not only diminish the city’s visual appeal but also increase the burden on cleaning staff and municipal resources.

In recent months, the PMC has intensified its focus on quality-of-life issues, including dust pollution from construction sites and the safety of drinking water across wards.

As part of this renewed emphasis, enforcement teams have already conducted targeted drives at high-footfall locations. One such operation inside the underground subway connecting the Multi-Modal Hub to Patna Junction resulted in fines being collected from nearly 250 people caught spitting.

Authorities believe these figures highlight both the scale of the problem and the need for sustained, visible action. The extension of penalties to public urination further underscores the administration’s intent to tackle behaviours that compromise hygiene and dignity in shared spaces.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Clean cities are not built by surveillance cameras and fines alone; they are shaped by collective responsibility, empathy and a shared respect for public spaces. While the PMC’s determination to enforce hygiene norms reflects a genuine concern for public health and urban aesthetics, labelling offenders as “Nagar Shatru” raises important questions about dignity, social inclusion and the long-term effectiveness of public shaming.

Behavioural change is most sustainable when enforcement is complemented by education, awareness campaigns and accessible alternatives such as adequate public toilets, proper waste disposal systems and sustained outreach on the health impacts of tobacco use.