By Sitaram Mewati
Indian Railways has tightened its regulations against passengers travelling without a valid ticket or continuing their journey beyond the distance specified on their ticket. Under the revised rules, the minimum penalty for ticketless travel or travelling beyond the booked destination has been increased from ₹250 to ₹500. The new provisions came into effect across the country on June 20, 2026.
According to the Railways, passengers found travelling without a valid ticket or pass, or those travelling beyond the destination mentioned on their ticket, will now be required to pay the applicable fare, the excess charge and a minimum penalty of ₹500. Earlier, the minimum penalty in such cases was ₹250. Railway authorities said the move is aimed at curbing ticketless travel and encouraging greater compliance with railway regulations.
Under Section 137 of the Railways Act, the minimum penalty for travelling without a valid ticket or pass has been increased to ₹500. However, there has been no change in the maximum punishment under the provision. Upon conviction, offenders may still face imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to ₹1,000, or both.
Similarly, under Section 138 of the Railways Act, the minimum excess charge for travelling beyond the distance specified on the ticket has also been raised from ₹250 to ₹500. The rule governing the recovery of the fare for the additional distance travelled remains unchanged.
Indian Railways has appealed to passengers to always travel with a valid ticket. It said adherence to the rules would help passengers avoid unnecessary penalties, legal action and inconvenience during their journey. The Railways also urged travellers to act as responsible citizens by following railway regulations and contributing to safe, orderly and lawful rail travel.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
