Indian Railways Hikes Fine to ₹1,000 for Littering at Stations, Trains: What Passengers Need to Know
Indian Railways has increased the penalty for littering and other activities that affect cleanliness at railway stations and on trains from ₹500 to ₹1,000. The revised rules have come into force following an amendment to the Indian Railways (Penalties for Activities Affecting Cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012.
The Ministry of Railways issued the amendment through a Gazette notification dated August 24, 2026. Under the revised Rule 4, a person found violating the cleanliness rules can now face a ₹1,000 penalty. The earlier provision allowed for a fine of up to ₹500.
What Activities Can Attract the ₹1,000 Fine?
The rules cover more than simply throwing garbage on railway premises. Passengers can face penalties for activities such as littering, spitting, urinating or defecating, cooking in unauthorised places, feeding animals or birds, washing clothes and washing or repairing vehicles in railway premises.
The rules also cover acts that damage or deface railway property, including unauthorised writing, posters and similar activities.
What Happens If You Don't Pay?
The revised rules also specify what happens if a passenger refuses or fails to pay the penalty. The person can be produced before a competent court, which may impose a fine of up to ₹2,000.
The amendment is part of the Railways' broader efforts to improve cleanliness at stations and inside trains. The higher penalty is intended to act as a stronger deterrent against passengers who violate cleanliness norms.
Why Indian Railways Increased the Fine
Railway stations and trains handle millions of passengers every day, making cleanliness a major operational challenge. The increased penalty gives railway authorities a stronger enforcement mechanism against littering and other unhygienic practices.
The change also comes amid wider cleanliness campaigns across railway zones. Authorities are increasingly using inspections, surveillance and on-the-spot penalties to encourage passengers to maintain hygiene in public transport spaces.
For passengers, the message is straightforward: throwing waste, spitting or engaging in other prohibited activities on trains or railway premises can now cost ₹1,000. With the possibility of a higher court-imposed penalty for non-payment, travellers are being urged to follow railway cleanliness rules.
