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Indian Railways Crackdown: Loud Phone Calls and Reels on Trains Could Lead to Jail
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News18•19-10-2026, 11:45
Indian Railways Crackdown: Loud Phone Calls and Reels on Trains Could Lead to Jail
- •Southern Railway issued a strict directive warning passengers against playing audio or videos on speakers and having loud mobile conversations on trains and stations.
- •Violators face a spot fine of Rs 1,000, while persistent offenders can face up to six months in jail or fines up to Rs 5,000 under the Jan Vishwas Act.
- •Ticket examiners are empowered to enforce these penalties across all six divisions of the Southern Railway zone.
- •Continuous multi-lingual announcements and notice stickers are being deployed in coaches and stations to remind passengers to use earphones.
- •The measures aim to curb the everyday nuisance of noisy travel and restore peace, particularly in air-conditioned coaches.
Key Questions Answered
Commuters caught playing audio on speaker mode or having loud phone conversations face a spot fine of Rs 1,000. Persistent violators risk simple imprisonment for up to six months or fines up to Rs 5,000.
Southern Railway issued the directive through its Commercial Branch across all six divisions of the zone. The order empowers ticket examiners to penalize disruptive passengers under the newly amended Jan Vishwas Act, 2026.
Southern Railway has instructed all its divisions to broadcast continuous multi-lingual announcements in English, Hindi, and regional languages through station public address systems and inside train coaches. Standardised notices and stickers are also being used to remind travellers to use earphones.
