Delhi/Hyderabad, Mar 28: The Central government has proposed stricter penalties for misconduct in Metro trains through amendments to the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, with fines for offences such as drunken behaviour, nuisance, and carrying offensive material likely to increase from ₹500 to ₹2,500.
The changes have been proposed under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada.
Focus on monetary penalties instead of criminal punishment
The proposed amendments aim to replace certain criminal punishments with financial penalties, increase fine amounts, update legal references, and introduce clearer definitions related to offences in Metro services.
As part of the legal update, Section 10 of the Act will replace references to the Indian Penal Code with corresponding provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, aligning the Metro law with the new criminal code framework.
Higher penalties for nuisance and misconduct
Under the proposed amendments:
- Drunkenness, nuisance, spitting, quarrelling, or sitting on the Metro floor (Section 59(1)) could attract a fine of up to ₹2,500 instead of the current ₹500.
- Carrying offensive materials (Section 60(1)) may also attract a fine of up to ₹2,500.
- Defacing Metro property by writing or pasting posters and refusing to remove them (Section 62(3)) may attract penalties up to ₹10,000, replacing the earlier provision of imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to ₹1,000.
- Unlawful entry, including men entering coaches reserved for women (Section 64(1)), could attract a penalty of up to ₹5,000, replacing earlier provisions of imprisonment up to three months or a fine of ₹250.
Currently, fines under these sections range between ₹200 and ₹500.
Addressing growing incidents
The move comes following several reported incidents of misconduct in Metro services, including passengers travelling in an inebriated condition, trespassing on tracks, and violations such as men travelling in women-only coaches.
Authorities believe stricter financial penalties will help improve passenger discipline and safety.
New definitions proposed
The Bill also proposes to introduce new definitions in the Act. A new clause defines “demonstration” as public protests, rallies, marches, sit-ins, or gatherings that may disrupt Metro operations or inconvenience commuters.
Another amendment proposes a broader definition of a “ticket”, covering tokens, smart cards, multimodal transport cards, and any authorised travel instrument issued by Metro authorities.
Structural changes in the law
Additionally, the chapter title “Offence and Penalties” is proposed to be revised to “Offences and Contraventions” to better reflect the revised penalty structure.
Officials say the amendments are aimed at improving commuter discipline, reducing legal complexity, and ensuring smoother Metro operations across the country. (Maxim News)
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