Railway Minister’s Crackdown on Unauthorized Travel in Reserved Coaches

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has taken stringent measures to tackle the issue of unauthorized persons traveling in reserved coaches across Indian Railways. Concerned by the surge in complaints through the ‘RailMadad’ application, Mr. Vaishnaw instructed General Managers of all Zonal Railways to conduct intensive drives involving Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.

This directive aims to ensure that only passengers with confirmed tickets occupy reserved berths, addressing recent incidents where unauthorized individuals occupied Sleeper Class berths on high-demand trains like the Chennai Central-Howrah Superfast Mail. Southern Railway has already launched operations on identified trains with frequent complaints, deploying additional ticket-checking staff and RPF to enforce penalties and de-board unauthorized travelers at stopping stations. The proactive approach includes public announcements at stations to deter unauthorized boarding, reinforcing the Railway Ministry’s commitment to passenger safety and service efficiency.