Title - Louts on trains, railways to launch drive

The Railways is plagued by many problems. And there have been new additions to that list - passengers watching porn on laptops or phones, consuming liquor, playing loud and/or offensive music and even using abusive language.
The agency has now decided to crack down on such passengers. "Following a large number of complaints, we have planned strict vigilance and punishment for offenders causing nuisance. We have issued directives to all staff on the trains to keep tabs," said a senior Northern Railway official.
There was also the issue of trains' catering units selling tobacco and alcohol, to which the official said, "Strict action will be instituted against such catering units."

"If a passenger is in an inebriated state, resorts to nuisance, indecency or abusive language, he will be made to get off and his ticket will be forfeited. He can also be fined and jailed for six months. Such actions will not be tolerated," he said.

The Railway Act was framed in 1989, a time where there were no gadgets such as laptops. "But now we're invoking the same Act to take action. Section 145 calls for action against people responsible for indecency and nuisance," said the official.

The Act includes a number of rules for maintenance of propriety and decency on board and at stations. "We're also taking action against passengers entering reserved coaches unauthorisedly and occupying seats," he said.   

The Railways have also issued directives for action and penalty against waitlisted or unconfirmed passengers hanging around in toilet areas. Last year, the Delhi division of Northern Railways had penalised more than 7,500 people for smoking on trains and in stations.