New Delhi: Littering on trains and railway premises will now cost passengers more, with the Ministry of Railways doubling the maximum penalty for violating cleanliness rules from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000.
The revised penalty has been introduced through the Indian Railways (Penalties for Activities Affecting Cleanliness at Railway Premises) Amendment Rules, 2026, notified in the Official Gazette on August 24. The rules came into force on the same day.
The Ministry of Railways stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (g) of sub-section (2) and subsection (3) of section 60 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, to amend the Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises) Rules, 2012,”
The amended rules replace the earlier provision that prescribed a fine not exceeding Rs 500. The penalty can now extend to Rs 1,000. If the person fails to pay the penalty, they may be produced before a competent court, which can impose a fine of up to Rs 2,000.
The rules cover several activities that affect cleanliness on railway premises and inside trains. Passengers are prohibited from throwing or leaving litter at stations, on railway premises or inside train coaches, except at designated places.
Spitting, urinating and defecating are also prohibited. Cooking, bathing, feeding animals or birds, and washing clothes, utensils or vehicles are not permitted where facilities for these activities have not been specifically provided.
Unauthorised pasting of posters, writing or drawing on train coaches or other railway property is also covered by the rules. Any act that damages or defaces railway property can attract the penalty.
Authorised vendors and hawkers are required to keep dustbins or waste containers for collecting litter and ensure that the waste is properly disposed of.
The authority to collect penalties rests with designated railway officials. These include station masters or station managers, ticket collectors from the commercial department, officials of equivalent rank in the operating department and other officials authorised by the railway administration.
The revised rules strengthen the financial consequence for cleanliness violations as Indian Railways seeks to improve hygiene across stations and trains. For passengers, the message is straightforward: disposing of waste properly is now not just a matter of cleanliness, but can also save them a Rs 1,000 penalty.
BI Bureau
