Indian Railways Tightens Penalties for Smoking, Hawking and Begging, Enforcement Challenges Loom in Tripura

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 22, 2026

Indian Railways has introduced stricter penalties for a range of offenses on trains and railway premises under the provisions of the Jan Vishwas Act and related amendments aimed at improving passenger safety, comfort, and discipline across the railway network.

Under the revised provisions, unauthorized begging in railway coaches, platforms, and station premises will attract a penalty of Rs.2,000. Repeat offenders may also face imprisonment as per applicable legal provisions. The move is part of a broader effort by Indian Railways to ensure a cleaner, safer, and more passenger-friendly travel environment.

The Railway Ministry has also substantially enhanced penalties for several other violations:

Ticketless Travel: Minimum penalties for traveling without a valid ticket have been significantly increased.

Unauthorized Hawking: Selling goods on trains or railway premises without authorization now attracts a fine of Rs.2,000.

Smoking: Passengers found smoking in coaches, compartments, or other prohibited railway areas will face a Rs.2,000 fine.

Nuisance and Misbehavior: Individuals using abusive language, creating disturbances, or traveling in an intoxicated condition may face fines of up to Rs.1,000 and can be removed from the train.

Women's Coaches: Men found traveling in compartments or berths reserved for women may be fined Rs.2,500 and are liable to immediate removal.

Railway officials believe the stricter penalties will act as a deterrent and help improve passenger comfort, particularly on long-distance trains where complaints relating to unauthorized hawking, smoking, and nuisance behavior are common.

However, questions are being raised about the practical implementation of these measures in the northeastern region, particularly in Tripura.

Sources in the railway sector point out that many railway stations and railway police establishments in Tripura continue to face manpower shortages. The number of railway staff, ticket-checking personnel, and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel is reportedly limited in comparison to the growing railway network and increasing passenger traffic in the state.

With railway connectivity expanding and passenger movement increasing through stations such as Agartala Railway Station, concerns have emerged regarding how effectively the enhanced penalties can be enforced on a day-to-day basis.

Railway observers note that unauthorized hawking, begging, smoking, and occasional nuisance activities can only be curbed through regular inspections, surprise checks, and adequate deployment of railway protection and enforcement personnel. In the absence of sufficient manpower, implementation of the new provisions may prove challenging.

As a result, railway authorities in Agartala are reportedly faced with the task of balancing stricter compliance requirements with existing staffing constraints. While the new penalties send a strong message regarding passenger discipline, effective enforcement in Tripura will largely depend on strengthening manpower, increasing surveillance, and ensuring closer coordination between railway officials, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Government Railway Police.

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