Nanjing subway operator aborts food ban

By Chen Qian  |   2008-12-30  |     ONLINE EDITION

A new regulation to be adopted next year by the subway operator in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, will drop the controversial ban on eating food in the subway after soliciting public opinions.

The general manager of Nanjing Metro Operation Company said the food ban has no basis, Oriental Morning Post reported today.

"However we hope passengers will not eat or drink in subway trains to prevent spilling and stains on the train," Song Guoqiang was quoted as saying.

The draft regulation unveiled last month warned that passengers who eat or drink in the subway will be fined 20 yuan to 100 yuan ((US$2.9-US$14.6) to keep stations and trains clean.

A company official said earlier that sanitation workers collected about 3 tons of waste every day from the city's subway trains.

But metro officials admit it is hard to implement the food ban and should listen to public opinions.

The new regulation also bans pet animals, balloons, beggars, entertainers and passengers who are strip to the waist or walk barefoot.

Authorities said they will give verbal warning rather than actually fining passengers who violate the regulation in the first three months.

The company will set up a new department to enforce the regulation with the authorization of the Nanjing Construction Commission.