Indian Railways has doubled the minimum penalty for travelling without a valid ticket from ₹250 to ₹500 with effect from July 1, 2026. According to a public notice from DRM Mumbai CR, the revised penalty has been introduced under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, as part of efforts to curb unauthorised travel and improve compliance with railway rules. The Railway Board has informed all zonal railways that the legislation has received Presidential assent and amendments to the Railways Act, 1989, will be brought into force through a separate notification. The enhanced penalty applies to passengers travelling without valid tickets or passes under Sections 137 and 138 of the Railways Act, 1989. In a gazette notification issued on June 19, 2026, the Ministry of Railways stated that the provisions of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 shall come into force from the date of publication, with serial number 52 specifically covering the Railways Act, 1989.
The penalty increase comes as ticketless travel continues to pose significant challenges for the national transporter. In May alone, the Central Railway zone collected ₹40.85 crore in penalties from 4.96 lakh ticketless passengers, highlighting the scale of the issue. As reported by NDTV Profit, offenders will be required to pay the applicable fare and excess charges in addition to the ₹500 minimum penalty. If the boarding station cannot be determined, the fare may be calculated from the train's originating station or the last ticket-checking point. Under the revised Section 137, passengers found travelling without proper passes or tickets face excess charges equal to the due fare, with a minimum penalty of ₹500 or charges notified by the Central Government. The Railway Board has informed all zonal railways that the revised provisions are expected to be implemented shortly, probably from July 1. In FY25, Indian Railways collected ₹1,781 crore in penalties from offenders, demonstrating the substantial revenue generated from penalty collections.
The stricter rules now specifically target passengers with intent to defraud the railway administration. According to the revised Section 137, passengers using already-used tickets or attempting to travel without proper passes face fare calculation from the last point of ticket examination or the train's original starting station. The penalty structure includes excess charges equal to the due fare with a minimum of ₹500 or charges notified by the Central Government. If passengers fail to pay the required amount, railway authorities can approach the competent court for recovery, with default payment attracting imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to ₹500, or both. The amendments also revise penalties for travelling on another person's ticket, where such tickets will be forfeited and passengers will be required to pay the fare and excess charges, with a minimum liability of ₹500. The enhanced provisions apply only when there is intent to defraud the railway administration, making the penalties more severe for fraudulent travel attempts.
Railway authorities believe the higher fine will act as a deterrent and help improve passenger discipline across the network. As reported by NDTV Profit, passengers have been urged to travel with valid tickets and follow railway regulations to avoid penalties. The revised penalties cover multiple violations including fraudulent travel, using already-used tickets, and travelling in violation of railway rules. With the stricter rules now in force, Indian Railways hopes to ensure smoother, safer and more accountable travel for passengers across the country, with the enhanced penalties specifically targeting those who intentionally defraud the railway administration. The legislation also introduces unauthorised hawking and begging in trains and railway premises which will attract a penalty of ₹2,000, with repeat offenders facing imprisonment of up to one year. Additional provisions include smoking on trains carrying a ₹2,000 fine and forfeiture of pass/ticket, and unauthorised entry into reserved coaches with fines starting from ₹2,000 for first offences.
