Railways hikes fine 5-fold for men entering women-only train coaches

New Delhi: Indian Railways has sharply increased the penalty for male passengers who illegally enter women-only coaches or occupy berths reserved for women, raising the spot fine from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500.

The move follows an amendment to Section 162 of the Railways Act under provisions of the Jan Vishwas law and is aimed at strengthening the safety and privacy of women passengers.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and ticket-checking staff have been instructed to take strict action against men entering ladies' coaches, even when they cite overcrowding in general compartments as the reason. Railway staff have the authority to remove such passengers from the coach immediately and impose a Rs 2,500 penalty.

Under the revised provisions, passengers who refuse to pay the spot fine will have their cases referred to the Railway Magistrate's court, where the penalty could go up to Rs 5,000.

Transgender persons have been exempted from the restrictions and penalties under the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

The Railway authorities are also stepping up inspections following repeated complaints from women passengers about men entering women-only compartments, particularly on suburban, passenger and local trains.

The penalty increases extend beyond violations involving women's coaches. The minimum fine for travelling without a valid ticket has been doubled from Rs 250 to Rs 500, in addition to the recovery of the actual fare payable for the journey.

Railways have also raised the penalty for misuse of railway facilities at stations and on trains. Such violations, which previously carried a fine of Rs 150, can now incur a penalty of up to Rs 2,000.

The revised penalties are part of a broader move to tighten discipline and enforcement across the railway network.