A recent gazette notification dated June 19, 2026, issued by the Ministry of Railways invokes the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, enforcing tighter controls under the Railways Act, 1989.
Smoking remains strictly prohibited on trains and railway premises under Section 167 of the Railways Act. Violators are now liable to pay a penalty of Rs 2,000. Failure to pay this fine may result in court proceedings with penalties up to Rs 5,000. This follows multiple incidents involving smoking and transportation of inflammable materials on trains.
To address frequent complaints about safety and unauthorized access, male passengers found travelling in coaches reserved exclusively for women will be fined Rs 2,500 on the spot. Repeat offenders may face legal action under the Railways Act, 1989, and could be barred from future rail travel temporarily. These rules apply to all trains, including express and premium services such as Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, and Shatabdi.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Ticket Checking Staff (TTEs) have been directed to increase frequency of checks, especially during night journeys and peak hours, with special focus on ladies’ compartments in long-distance trains. Signage and announcements at stations and inside trains will inform passengers about these new regulations.
A senior official from the Railway Ministry emphasized that these measures aim to enable women to travel with dignity and confidence, addressing ongoing safety concerns.
Further, unauthorised hawking and begging in passenger areas are now subject to penalties under Section 144 of the Railways Act, 1989. Offenders face imprisonment for a minimum of three months and fines starting at Rs 2,000. If they refuse to pay the fine, court proceedings may impose imprisonment up to three months, fines up to Rs 5,000, or both.
These changes have contributed to record-breaking revenue collections in the first quarter of the financial year due to enhanced ticket checking and fine enforcement. For instance, Central Railway, covering the busy Mumbai network, collected over Rs 40 crore in a single month through systematic enforcement efforts.
