Carrying home-cooked food on the train is fine, but this one mistake could cost you dearly!
New Delhi: Carrying home-cooked food during train journeys is a long-standing and popular tradition among Indian travelers. Even today, millions of people carry poori-sabzi, parathas, pickles, or other homemade meals on long-distance trips. However, if you leave behind food packets, leaf plates, plastic waste, bottles, or other trash on the train or station premises after eating, this habit could hit your wallet hard. Indian Railways is taking continuous action against such passengers and imposing fines for littering.
Railways states that regular inspection drives are being conducted across various divisions to ensure a clean, safe, and comfortable journey for passengers. These drives focus specifically on issues such as ticketless travel, irregular travel, carrying unbooked luggage, smoking, and littering.
According to data from the Prayagraj Division, action was taken against a large number of passengers during a special drive conducted in April. During this period, fines were collected from 1,189 passengers for littering on trains and station premises. This included passengers who had discarded waste from home-cooked meals on the train or at the station after eating.
According to railway officials, action was taken against a total of 1 lakh 5 thousand 142 passengers in April for various rule violations. These included cases of ticketless travel, irregular travel, unbooked luggage, smoking, and littering. Through these drives, the Railways generated revenue exceeding Rs 7.65 crore, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.
The Railways appeals to passengers to adhere to cleanliness norms during their journey. If you are carrying food from home, please dispose of any leftover waste in a dustbin or at an appropriate disposal point. Throwing trash under the train seat, out of the window, or onto the platform can be considered a violation of rules and may attract a fine.
The Railways believes that a clean rail journey is a shared responsibility—not just of the administration, but also of the passengers. A little care can not only save one from fines but also contribute significantly to ensuring a clean and better rail travel experience across the country.