‘No reels allowed’: Delhi Metro’s new announcements target content creators, viral video menace

Delhi metro

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched a direct assault on disruptive content creation, introducing new public announcements that explicitly prohibit passengers from filming videos on its premises.

The move targets the growing trend of shooting social media reels, dance clips and other viral content inside trains and stations.

The fresh directives, which began on September 14, are being rolled out across the entire network. Officials cited by News18 said that the system-wide implementation is expected to be complete by the end of this week.

The bilingual announcements, made in both Hindi and English, leave little room for misinterpretation. They now include a specific warning alongside existing rules against eating or sitting on the floor.

"Filming reels, dance videos or any other such activities are strictly prohibited," the new message states, according to a report by News18.

While the Metro Railways Act of 2002 does not mention "reels" specifically, DMRC officials clarified that offenders can be penalised under existing provisions related to "creating a nuisance."

The primary motivation for the crackdown is to protect the comfort of fellow passengers. "This step has been taken to ensure that fellow passengers are not inconvenienced due to such activity," Anuj Dayal, principal executive director of corporate communications for DMRC, was cited as saying by News18.

In a related effort, the corporation has also initiated a social media campaign urging commuters to avoid playing loud music on their mobile phones.

"These initiatives are being taken to make travelling by the Delhi Metro a comfortable experience," Dayal added.

The new measures respond to a frequent sight in recent years: Delhi Metro coaches being used as impromptu studios. From elaborate dance routines and lip-sync performances to more bizarre trends, such videos often spark public debate.

One recent example that garnered significant attention online was a ‘get-ready-with-me’ (GRWM) video filmed inside a moving coach on the Yellow Line. The clip showed a passenger applying makeup, including blush and lip balm, during the journey.

Other viral incidents have featured stunts, loud singing and even altercations, drawing criticism from daily commuters who view the metro strictly as a transit system.

"People know if they shoot a video inside the Delhi Metro, it will not only catch eyeballs inside the coach but also on social media," said Ashish Kumar, a regular passenger, was quoted by News18 as saying. His friend, Alka Singh, agreed, stating simply, "The metro is for travel, not for content creation."

This is not the DMRC’s first attempt to tackle the issue. In 2023, flying squads, which primarily monitor the women’s coaches, were also instructed to look out for reel-making activities.

Despite these efforts, a steady stream of viral videos has continued to emerge, highlighting the difficulty of policing such behaviour on a vast and busy network.