Berlin BVG Makes U-Bahn Cleaning and Security Patrols Permanent

The initiative expands to multiple lines, with Kottbusser Tor undergoing safety upgrades and cultural enhancements as part of a broader urban strategy.

• The BVG has institutionalized its 'Reinigungsstreife' patrols across major U-Bahn lines after a successful pilot program, citing improved safety and cleanliness.
• Kottbusser Tor is being transformed into an 'Innovationsbahnhof' with measures such as modular safety centers, enhanced cleaning, and better visibility in blind spots.
• AI-driven video surveillance has been implemented at Kottbusser Tor to monitor tracks, with plans to expand its use to platforms for broader safety applications.
• Critics, including social workers, argue the initiative displaces vulnerable populations, raising concerns about its social impact despite BVG's collaboration with some organizations.
• Proposals for cultural programming, such as DJ performances and art installations, aim to make transit spaces more vibrant, with Kottbusser Tor as a testing ground.

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