₹1,000 Fine for Playing Loud Reels in Trains?

Article by Yana Published on: 5:45 pm, 20 October 2026

Watching Instagram reels, playing music or making loud phone calls during a train journey can now land passengers in trouble. Southern Railways is warning of penalties for behaviour that disturbs fellow travellers. Under the Railways Act, passengers found creating a nuisance could face a fine of up to ₹1,000. Repeat offenders who continue even after a warning from Railway staff can even get fined up to Rs 5,000 or six months of imprisonment or both.

Southern Railways issued a communication from its headquarters in Chennai in October, directing its divisions- Chennai, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Salem to raise awareness about the issue through public announcements and notices at railway stations and inside trains.

They cited Section 145 of the Railways Act, 1989, as amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, to address nuisance caused by passengers using mobile phones loudly in public spaces. According to the directive, passengers who create a nuisance may be removed from railway premises and fined up to ₹1,000. Their tickets may also be forfeited under the applicable provisions.

Railway commercial staff, including the TC, are authorised to impose the penalty. However, the advisory does not mean that every phone call or instance of watching a video automatically attracts a fine.

The widespread availability of mobile internet has made it increasingly common for passengers to watch videos, scroll through reels and listen to audio content without headphones. In enclosed spaces such as air-conditioned coaches, such noise can disturb people who are resting, working or travelling overnight.

Awareness will be spread in regional languages, Hindi and English. Notices and warning stickers will also be put up. Passengers are advised to use earphones or headphones and keep their phones on silent or vibration mode, and use low-volume ringtones. If a fellow passenger’s phone use is causing a disturbance, travellers can seek assistance from authorised railway staff rather than getting into a confrontation.