Bhubaneswar, June 20 -- Passengers travelling on Indian Railways without a valid ticket will now face a steeper penalty, with the minimum fine for ticketless travel being doubled from Rs 250 to Rs 500 from June 20, 2026.

The move has been implemented under the provisions of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, in an effort to discourage unauthorised travel and improve compliance with railway regulations.

In a statement, Indian Railways said the revised penalty under Sections 137 and 138 of the Railways Act, 1989, came into force on June 20 following the enactment of the Jan Vishwas Act.

Railway authorities have appealed to passengers to purchase valid tickets before commencing their journey and adhere to railway rules t...