Kollam, 18 July (H.S.) :Railway authorities have warned passengers against travelling without valid tickets, saying stricter penalties under the Jan Vishwas Act are now being enforced to curb ticketless travel and other offences on trains.

The warning comes after a passenger was sentenced by a special railway court for travelling without a valid ticket. The Special Class Railway Magistrate Court in Kollam imposed a fine of ₹7,000 and sentenced the offender to one day's simple imprisonment after he was found guilty of violating provisions of the Railways Act.

According to railway officials, the passenger was detected without a ticket during a routine inspection. He was initially asked to pay a penalty of ₹600 but refused. Following his refusal, he was handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Kollam.

The RPF registered a case under Sections 137, 145(b) and 146 of the Railways Act, 1989, completed the investigation and produced the accused before the Special Class Railway Magistrate Court. After hearing the case, Magistrate Justin Martin convicted the passenger and awarded the enhanced penalty and jail term.

Officials said that under the provisions of the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, the minimum penalty for travelling without a valid ticket has been increased to ₹500. In addition to the penalty, offenders will also be required to pay the actual fare for the distance travelled. The minimum amount payable for ticketless travel in a general coach is now ₹570, while passengers caught in sleeper coaches for journeys up to 200 kilometres will have to pay at least ₹780.

Railway authorities cautioned that passengers who fail to pay the prescribed penalty may face prosecution under the Railways Act. Courts can impose imprisonment of up to six months in such cases.

The Railways has also tightened penalties for other offences. Creating a nuisance under the influence of alcohol can attract a fine of ₹1,000 and imprisonment of up to six months. Smoking inside trains carries a fine of ₹2,000, unauthorised entry into women's coaches can invite fines ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, while travelling on coach footboards or rooftops can result in a fine of ₹2,000.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman