The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had formed four special inspection squads to conduct surprise checks and identify offenders who litter, damage, squat or even play music at high volume in a Metro train or station.

The number of offenders caught by these teams, which conduct 60 inspections every day, is a staggering 17,465.

The most common offences are sitting on the coach floor, pushing and shoving other commuters while boarding or de-boarding the train, able-bodied men sitting in seats meant for women, senior citizens and disabled passengers, leaning against or keeping hands on the train doors and walking on the escalator.

"We Delhiites don't have patience.

Littering is common and people sit on seats reserved for women," said DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal.

"It is a mammoth level of problems we are facing when Metro is just carrying around 8 lakh passengers every day.

When Metro's network expands and we expect 20 lakh passengers to use the system, only punitive measures are not going to help." In order to inculcate values and a sense of ownership in Metro users, DMRC has joined hands with Foundation for Restoration of National Values to advice it on how to do that.

DMRC has also launched a `Value Guide Programme' to involve some of its commuters in spreading awareness about civic values.

These commuters, to be called `value champions', would be first trained by DMRC.