Heavy fine, jail term, if COVID-19 guidelines not followed: Railways

NEW DELHI: Commuters on trains without masks or not abiding by the rules of social distancing in railway premises will be fined or may even face jail. This comes after new guidelines were released by the Indian Railways to try and reduce/control the spread of COVID-19 during the forthcoming festive period. Railways announced that 392 festive special trains will be plying, in addition to about 300 trains that are already running daily.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has released elaborated guidelines for commuters requesting them to wear mask properly and maintain social distancing when they are in railway premises. Furthermore, activities such as ‘spitting or wilful ejection of body fluid/waste in public area’, which generate unhygienic circumstances, have been termed illegal.

RPF added that such activities are probable to transmit coronavirus, endangering the safety of other passengers. Hence, the violator may be penalised up to   Rs 500 and six months of imprisonment for inconvenience and intoxication under Section 145 of the Railways Act 1989, and imprisonment of one year for negligence and endangering safety of others, under Section 154. Under Section 153 of the Act, any person engaging in unlawful activity or jeopardising the safety of others may face five years in jail.