East Central Railway Cracks Down on Illegal Alarm Chain Pulling, Fines 514 Offenders
The East Central Railway (ECR) has taken strict action against the misuse of train alarm chains, penalizing a total of 514 individuals for illegally stopping trains by pulling the emergency alarm chain. This enforcement drive was conducted under the 'Samay Palan' initiative from March 1 to March 15 across all five divisions within the ECR's jurisdiction.
According to Section 141 of the Railway Act, pulling the alarm chain without a genuine emergency is a punishable offense that disrupts railway operations and compromises passenger safety.
Division-Wise Breakdown of Offenders and Fines
ECR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra provided detailed statistics on the crackdown. The Danapur division recorded the highest number of violations, with 230 offenders booked, followed by Samastipur (101), DDU (73), Sonepur (66), and Dhanbad (44).
The railway authorities collected a total fine of Rs1.46 lakh from these 514 cases during the intensive two-week drive.
Parallel Drive Against Unauthorized Travel in Women's Coaches
In a simultaneous enforcement action under the 'Mahila Suraksha' campaign, the ECR apprehended as many as 1,570 people for unauthorized travel in reserved women's coaches. This offense falls under Section 162 of the Railway Act, which specifically prohibits such violations to ensure the safety and comfort of female passengers.
The railways imposed fines totaling Rs3.61 lakh in these cases. Once again, the Danapur division led with the highest number of offenders at 840, followed by DDU (278), Dhanbad (205), Samastipur (130), and Sonepur (117).
Railway's Emphasis on Safety and Operational Discipline
CPRO Saraswati Chandra emphasized that the primary objective of these drives is to enhance passenger safety, prevent unnecessary train delays, and maintain strict discipline in reserved coaches. The misuse of alarm chain pulling (ACP) frequently causes significant disruptions to train schedules, particularly affecting long-distance mail and express trains, and inconveniences thousands of passengers.
The East Central Railway has issued a strong appeal to all passengers to refrain from pulling the alarm chain except in genuine emergencies. Such irresponsible actions not only lead to financial penalties but also compromise the efficiency and reliability of the entire railway network.
These coordinated enforcement measures underscore the railway's commitment to upholding law and order, ensuring a secure travel environment, and optimizing operational punctuality across its extensive network in the region.
