Railways Revises Key Provisions of the Railways Act, 1989 to Promote Passenger Convenience and Strengthen Safety

 Guwahati, 01^st August, 2026:

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), in line with Indian Railways (IR), notifies all passengers and general public that significant revisions to various provisions of the Railways Act, 1989 with the objective of simplifying compliance for railway-related offences, aligning certain provisions with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and ensuring stricter action against offences that compromise passenger safety and railway operations. The revised provisions seek to decriminalise several minor violations by replacing imprisonment with monetary penalties for first-time or less serious offences, while retaining stringent punishment for repeated or serious violations. These reforms are aimed at making the legal framework more citizen-friendly without compromising the safety, security and discipline of the railway system.

Under the revised provisions, significant changes have been introduced in Sections 137, 138, 142, 144, 145, 146, 147, 155, 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167 and 172 of the Railways Act, 1989. In the revision, several offences such as travelling without an authorized ticket, unauthorised travel beyond the booked destination, transfer of tickets, unauthorised entry into reserved compartments, smoking, defacing railway property and similar minor violations will primarily attract prescribed penalties with imprisonment generally applicable only in cases of non-payment of penalties or repeated offences. At the same time, offences affecting passenger safety and public order, including drunkenness causing nuisance, obstruction of railway servants, trespassing, unlawful carriage of offensive goods and misconduct endangering railway operations, continue to attract stringent legal action. Certain provisions have also been suitably aligned with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to ensure greater legal consistency and more effective enforcement.

NFR appeals to all passengers and railway users across the zone to familiarise themselves with the revised provisions and strictly adhere to railway rules while travelling. The amendments are intended to facilitate easier enforcement of minor offences through prompt penalties while enabling railway authorities to focus more effectively on serious offences that threaten passenger safety, security and the smooth functioning of train services. NFR remains committed to providing a safe, secure, disciplined and passenger-friendly railway system and seeks the continued cooperation of the public in maintaining orderly and responsible travel across the railway network.