Over 350 smoking-related offences in Nanded railway division over 2 months

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Nanded division of the South Central Railway (SCR) registered 351 smoking-related offences during April and May, collecting fines amounting to Rs 68,100. This included 52 cases in April, which resulted in Rs 10,000 in penalties, and 299 cases in May, generating Rs 58,100 in fines.

Railway authorities have urged passengers and users to refrain from smoking on trains and within railway premises. Chief public relations inspector of the Nanded division, Rajesh Shinde, said, “Smoking inside railway coaches, station premises or other railway areas not only violates regulations but also poses a significant risk to passenger safety and railway operations.”

The administration said careless disposal of cigarette butts, bidis, matchsticks or other flammable material could lead to fires in coaches, stations or on railway property. “Such negligent acts can endanger passengers and staff, and also cause damage to railway assets,” Shinde said.

Smoking within railway premises and coaches is a punishable offence under the Railways Act, 1989. Under Section 167, violators can be fined Rs 200 or more. Additionally, Section 153 states that anyone endangering passenger safety through negligence or unlawful acts can face imprisonment of up to five years.

Record ticket-checking revenue in May

In May, intensive inspections conducted by ticket-checking teams across trains and stations in the Nanded division led to the detection of 28,944 cases of ticketless and irregular travel. These enforcement efforts resulted in a record revenue of Rs 1.7 crore for the Railways.