BANDANA SETHI, OP
Bhubaneswar: Giving greater priority to passenger safety, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has strengthened enforcement of railway rules in accordance with the Jan Vishwas Act. Between June 19 and October 20, East Coast Railway collected a total fine of Rs 1,00,68,125 from more than 19,388 people for various violations under the Railways Act, 1989.
The Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, introduced amendments to several provisions of the Railways Act, 1989. The revised penalty framework aims to encourage compliance with railway regulations and strengthen accountability. The enforcement drive targeted various violations, including unauthorised hawking and selling of goods, trespassing and unauthorised occupation of railway premises, disobedience of lawful instructions issued by railway staff, travelling on tickets booked in another person’s name without authorisation, and unauthorised entry into compartments reserved for women.
The highest number of cases—14,992—concerned unauthorised entry into passenger areas, misuse of railway premises and refusal to vacate such premises. Fines amounting to Rs 75,05,100 were collected in these cases. Similarly, 169 people were fined a total of Rs 3,27,500 for unauthorised hawking, selling goods or soliciting customers on railway premises.
Another 4,117 people were fined Rs 20,58,200 for disobeying reasonable instructions issued to vehicle drivers and operators within railway premises. ECoR has urged passengers and the general public to purchase valid tickets before travelling, follow rules governing reserved areas and avoid trespassing on railway tracks and entering railway premises without authorisation.