Railways earn 2.5 cr in fines in Delhi division

The Delhi division of Northern Railway has earned over Rs 2.5 crore in 2011 by levying against railway passengers and others for violating different sections of Indian Railways Act.

While fines were levied against a total of 67,899 people, another 595 people faced imprisonment under the Act.

The total amount collected from monetary punishment stands at Rs 2,57, 23,848. “Almost half of the total fine came from people caught travelling without ticket or with an invalid ticket. 

“A total of 38, 376 people were booked for it and Rs 1, 23, 36,611 were collected from them,” said Y S Rajput, a spokesperson.

Two other categories under which fine was collected include travelling in women's compartment and trespassing.

“While 7,337 people were fined for travelling in women's coach which generated a total fine of Rs 25, 61,935. 

“An amount of Rs 21, 68,800 was collected from 6,981 people who were booked for trespassing on railway tracks,” the railway official said.

The railway official added that the number of people booked for trespassing is aimed at discouraging people from crossing tracks at unmanned crossings to avoid accidents.

As per the data of Delhi police, around 1,300 people were killed on the rail system in the capital last year, run over by trains while crossing the lines,  in mishaps at unmanned railway crossings and at stations.

While 95 per cent of these deaths were accidents, five per cent were natural deaths.

However, there has been a 9.4 per cent decline in deaths on the railway system in the city last year, compared to 2010 when 1,500 people lost their lives.

Other major offences under which passengers were booked include smoking in trains (7162), pulling the emergency chains for unjustified reasons (319), touting (326), illegally selling food items (3973), littering on trains (2466), travelling on the roof of train (2346), illegal parking (1390) and obstructing trains operations (208).