Tatanagar: Railways to double minimum fine for ticketless travel from July 1

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 20: In a significant move to curb ticketless travel, Indian Railways has doubled the minimum penalty for passengers travelling without a valid ticket or pass.
The minimum fine has been raised from Rs 250 to Rs 500 through amendments to Sections 137 and 138 of the Railway Act, 1989, under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026. The revised provisions will come into effect from July 1, 2026, following the issuance of a formal notification.
Under the amended rules, passengers found fraudulently travelling without a ticket will face a minimum fine of Rs 500. However, the existing maximum punishment remains unchanged, including imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both.
The revision also applies to cases involving travel without a proper ticket or beyond the permitted distance, where the minimum excess charge and penalty have likewise been increased to Rs 500.
Other provisions relating to fare recovery and additional charges remain unchanged.
Railway authorities said the amendment is aimed at strengthening ticket-checking mechanisms, safeguarding revenue, and promoting greater compliance among passengers. All ticket-checking staff, commercial personnel, Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials, and field units have been directed to enforce the revised provisions for cases registered on or after July 1, 2026.
Officials expressed confidence that the enhanced penalty will act as a strong deterrent against ticketless travel and help reduce revenue losses incurred by the national transporter.