Enhanced Safety Measures for Solo Female Railway Passengers in India
Indian Railways prioritizes the safety and security of single women traveling on its trains. Section 139 of the Indian Railways Act 1989 specifically outlines protective measures for female passengers, including those traveling alone with children. Under these regulations, a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) cannot remove a teenage girl or woman from a train for traveling without a ticket; she can instead pay the fine and continue her journey. Even if the fine cannot be paid immediately, the woman cannot be removed from the compartment.
To further enhance women’s safety, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched the ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative on October 17, 2020. This pan-India program focuses on providing security to solo female passengers throughout their train journey. Key passenger rules that women traveling alone should be aware of include:
– Women can only be asked to leave the train if accompanied by a lady constable.
– Boys under 12 years of age are allowed to travel in women’s compartments.
– Any male entering a women’s coach can face legal prosecution.
– Military personnel are prohibited from entering ladies’ compartments.
– In long-distance Mail/Express trains, six berths are reserved for women in sleeper class and six berths in third-tier AC (3AC) coaches of Garib Rath/Rajdhani/Duronto/fully air-conditioned Express trains, regardless of age or whether traveling alone or in a group.
Indian Railways has also taken steps to improve women’s safety by installing CCTV cameras and setting up station monitoring rooms. These measures aim to create a safe and secure environment for female passengers and deter any unlawful behavior.
