Commuters travelling on Mumbai’s Western Railway and Central Railway suburban networks could face fines for playing music, watching videos or scrolling through social media reels at high volume on their mobile phones without earphones. Railway authorities have directed staff to take action against passengers who disturb fellow commuters, with penalties ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 and possible imprisonment in cases where the nuisance continues despite a warning. The move follows Southern Railway’s instructions to curb loud audio and disruptive phone conversations on trains and railway premises. Western Railway and Central Railway are now set to enforce similar measures on Mumbai’s local train services, with officials saying commuters will initially be warned before penalties are imposed for continued violations.
Western Railway, Central Railway To Crack Down On Loud Music: The nuisance caused by passengers playing music, watching videos and streaming social media reels through mobile phone speakers has become a concern on crowded suburban trains, particularly during peak hours. According to reports, railway authorities have directed staff on Western Railway and Central Railway to begin identifying commuters who play audio loudly without earphones. A Western Railway official said passengers would first be warned and asked to stop the disruptive behaviour. If they continued despite the warning, they could be fined for causing a nuisance. The measure is intended to ensure that commuters can travel without being disturbed by loud audio, prolonged phone conversations or other disruptive behaviour in crowded train compartments.
What Does Section 145 Of The Railways Act Say? The action is linked to Section 145 of the Railways Act, which deals with nuisance and misconduct on railway premises. The provision, as amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, provides for penalties against passengers whose behaviour disturbs others. Under the applicable provisions, a passenger found causing a nuisance may face a fine of up to Rs 1,000 and may be removed from the train or railway premises. Their ticket or pass may also be forfeited in applicable circumstances. If a passenger continues causing a nuisance despite being lawfully directed to stop by an authorised railway employee, the consequences can be more serious. The passenger may face simple imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both. The penalties are intended to address behaviour that affects the comfort and safety of other passengers. Enforcement will depend on the circumstances and the applicable provisions of the law.
Passengers Can Complain About Loud Mobile Phone Use: Railway officials have indicated that commuters can approach a ticket checker or ticket collector if another passenger is playing audio loudly on a mobile phone and disturbing those around them. The railway staff member can approach the offending passenger and ask them to stop. If the passenger refuses to comply and continues causing a nuisance, further action may follow. Officials have said warnings will be issued first, with penalties intended for commuters who persist despite being asked to stop. The authorities are also considering public announcements at stations and inside trains to inform passengers about the rules. These announcements may be made in local languages, Hindi and English.
Southern Railway’s Directive Prompted The Move: The latest action in Mumbai follows a directive issued by Southern Railway to its divisions to raise awareness about loud mobile phone use on trains and railway premises. In its communication, Southern Railway called for announcements through public address systems and notices at stations to discourage passengers from playing music or videos on speaker mode and speaking loudly on their phones. The initiative reinforces earlier Railway Board guidelines issued in July 2012, which addressed complaints about loud conversations, prolonged phone calls and disruptive ringtones inside train coaches, particularly air-conditioned compartments. With mobile internet making it easier to stream videos, music and reels during journeys, railway authorities are seeking to address a form of disturbance that has become increasingly common in shared public spaces.
What Mumbai Local Train Commuters Should Do? Passengers travelling on Western Railway and Central Railway services should use earphones or headphones when listening to music or watching videos on their phones. They should also keep phone conversations brief and at a reasonable volume, and use silent or vibration mode where possible. The rules do not prohibit ordinary mobile phone use. The focus is on behaviour that causes a nuisance or disturbs fellow passengers. For commuters who spend hours travelling on Mumbai’s crowded suburban network, the message is straightforward: keep audio private, respect fellow passengers and follow instructions issued by railway staff to avoid penalties.