Indian Railways Doubles Penalty For Ticketless Travel | Here's What You Need To Know

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 17:11 IST

Indian Railways has hiked the penalty for passengers travelling without a valid train ticket to ensure smooth operations and curb ticketless travel

Indian Railways has hiked the penalty for passengers travelling without a valid train ticket to ensure smooth operations and curb ticketless travel. The national transport also urged passengers to travel with a valid ticket to avoid fines.

In May, the Central Railway zone collected Rs 40.85 crore from 4.96 lakh ticketless passengers, according to the Indian Express. 

Sharing the announcement, the Divisional Railway Manager wrote in a post on ‘X’: “As per the provisions of the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, the minimum penalty under Sections 137 & 138 of the Railway Act, 1989, has been increased from ₹250 to ₹500, with immediate effect."

The national transporter also appealed to travellers to avail valid tickets and follow railway rules. “Passengers are requested to travel with a valid ticket and follow railway rules to avoid penalties."

In a gazette notification issued on June 19, the Ministry of Railways announced: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (8 of 2026), the Central Government hereby appoints the date of publication of this notification as the date on which the provisions of the said Act, in so far as it relates to serial number 52…the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989) respectively, shall come into force."

What Happens If You Board Without A Ticket?

The Indian Railways views a ticketless travel as a serious offence. If a passenger is caught without a valid ticket, they will be liable to pay the prescribed fare for the journey and the revised minimum penalty of Rs 500.

Previously, the minimum penalty amount stood at Rs 250 under railway regulations.

News india Indian Railways Doubles Penalty For Ticketless Travel | Here's What You Need To Know

Read More