Indian Railways (IR) has revised penalty for ticketless travelling from Rs 250 to Rs 500 besides revising the penalty structure for other violations.
The move follows the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) issuing details regarding the newly enacted Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026. The Act, which has officially received assent from the President of India, introduces updates to the Railways Act, 1989.
These amendments streamline enforcement, refine penalty structures to deter nuisance, and streamline operations. The revised fines are designed to discourage rule-breaking, reduce station clutter, and significantly upgrade the quality of the onboard experience for passengers.
Amendments to Railways Act 1989 and new penalty structures are as follows:
Under Section 137 for travelling without a ticket or with an invalid ticket, the minimum additional charge of Rs 500 would be levied. Under Section 142 for travelling on a transferred ticket, the ticket will be confiscated and an additional minimum Rs 500 additional charge would be applicable.
Under Section 144 for hawking (unauthorized selling) or begging, a penalty of Rs 2000 would be charged. Under Section 145, penalty for drunkenness, creating a nuisance, spitting, or using abusive language would attract a penalty of Rs1000 for the first time. Repeat offenders will be charged up to Rs5000 penalty or imprisonment.
Under Section 147, a penalty of Rs 500 would be levied for unauthorized entry into passenger areas (Trespassing). Smoking inside railway premises or trains will attract a penalty of Rs 2000 under Section 155.
Under Section 162, unauthorized male passengers entering ladies’ coaches or reserved seats will attract a penalty of Rs 2500. Carrying objectionable or dangerous goods will result in a minimum penalty of Rs10000 under Section 165.
Finally, under Section 166 for general violations / disobeying railway rules, Rs 2000 for the first offence and Rs 5000 for repeat violations will be levied. IR aims to foster a culture of mutual respect and civic responsibility among commuters with these updated measures. The updated penalty structure comes into effect on July 1, 2026.
