Vigilance drive at rail stations results in 1,500 cases in a week

Chennai: Stepping up vigilance at railway stations, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff has booked more than 1,500 passengers for various violations on the stretch between Tambaram and Guindy and fined them. Following orders from the headquarters, the RPF started to fine commuters who were travelling on the footboard, littering, smoking and sticking notices on station premises.

Starting December 1, the RPF booked 5,126 cases, collecting Rs3 lakhs in fines from offenders who were made to appear at the Tambaram judicial court.The officials said that on an average, they booked about 200-300 cases a month, but the drive had resulted in booking 1,500 cases in a week. Vendors who illegally sold food items inside the station formed a major section of the offenders. “More than 400 vendors were booked. They were fined Rs1,000,” said an RPF official. The maximum fine levied on them for sticking posters and notices was Rs1,250.

 The fine amount started from Rs100 for smoking and littering. “Many school students were caught for footboard travelling while college students were booked for crossing
railway tracks while listening to music,” the official said.