OBSTRUCTING RAIL MOVEMENT BY SQUATTING OR PICKETING IS PUNISHABLE - DON'T STOP THE LIFELINE FOR CITY OF JOY*

Kolkata, 25th May 2025.

Sealdah Division has indeed taken host of significant initiatives to enhance the safety, security and convenience of women commuters. Ladies coaches and entire ladies special trains are escorted by RPF troops and train escorting parties keep a close eye on female passengers traveling alone. CCTV surveillance system have been installed in all 3 phase ICF coaches for providing maximum security outreach. 

Crime Prevention and Detection Squad teams have been deployed at suburban stations to prevent and detect crimes, particularly those affecting women. These initiatives demonstrate Division's unwavering commitment to creating a safer environment for women commuters.

Consequent upon historic infrastructure transformation, all the platforms of Sealdah Station are now capable of holding 12 car trains. Subsequently, 950 odd EMU trains are now running with 12 coach EMU trains, thereby ensuring capacity enhancement of about 33%.

After meticulous examination of increasing rush in ladies coaches, Sealdah Division has decided to augment one more ladies coach in all Sealdah Suburban EMU locals. Accordingly, all the services across Sealdah Division are now running with 3 ladies coaches, thereby facilitating capacity enhancement of 50% exclusively for women commuters. This proactive initiative was aimed at promoting women safety, security, convenience and empowerment.

Moreover, Sealdah Division is plying 12 Matribhumi locals across Sealdah North, Main and South sections to provide relief for female passengers particularly during peak hours.

Under dynamic and inspiring leadership of Shri Rajeev Saxena/DRM, Sealdah Division is working on a mission mode to provide a smooth, safe, secured and rapid mass transportation system for all female passengers. Male passengers are strictly prohibited from boarding ladies coaches.

*Section 162 of the Railways Act, 1989 empowers Railway Protection Force (RPF) to deal with unauthorised entry into ladies coaches stringently. If found guilty, male passengers may face penalties, fines up to Rs. 500, and even confiscation of their pass or ticket. Male commuters are once again requested not to board ladies coaches failing which serious consequences will follow.*

In recent past, we came across a few incidents where a section of lady commuters are agitating at stations demanding more ladies coaches in EMU trains. *In pursuance of Section 153 of Railways Act, 1989, read with Section 154 & 174, Rail Roko in the name of agitation/protest is punishable and violators are liable to be imprisoned upto 5 years and/or imposed a fine upto Rs. 2000/-*

Passengers are requested to refrain from obstructing Rail movement causing huge inconvenience for lakhs of daily commuters. Suburban EMU services of Sealdah Division is the lifeline of Kolkata as it provides seamless connectivity with North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and parts of Howrah & Hooghly with the City of Joy. Sealdah Division is striving very hard to ensure comfortable and safe journey for millions of passengers with increased sectional speed and improved operational efficiency by reducing congestion. Please co-operate with Railways to serve you better.

Kolkata, 25th May 2025.

Sealdah Division has indeed taken host of significant initiatives to enhance the safety, security and convenience of women commuters. Ladies coaches and entire ladies special trains are escorted by RPF troops and train escorting parties keep a close eye on female passengers traveling alone. CCTV surveillance system have been installed in all 3 phase ICF coaches for providing maximum security outreach. 

Crime Prevention and Detection Squad teams have been deployed at suburban stations to prevent and detect crimes, particularly those affecting women. These initiatives demonstrate Division's unwavering commitment to creating a safer environment for women commuters.

Consequent upon historic infrastructure transformation, all the platforms of Sealdah Station are now capable of holding 12 car trains. Subsequently, 950 odd EMU trains are now running with 12 coach EMU trains, thereby ensuring capacity enhancement of about 33%.

After meticulous examination of increasing rush in ladies coaches, Sealdah Division has decided to augment one more ladies coach in all Sealdah Suburban EMU locals. Accordingly, all the services across Sealdah Division are now running with 3 ladies coaches, thereby facilitating capacity enhancement of 50% exclusively for women commuters. This proactive initiative was aimed at promoting women safety, security, convenience and empowerment.

Moreover, Sealdah Division is plying 12 Matribhumi locals across Sealdah North, Main and South sections to provide relief for female passengers particularly during peak hours.

Under dynamic and inspiring leadership of Shri Rajeev Saxena/DRM, Sealdah Division is working on a mission mode to provide a smooth, safe, secured and rapid mass transportation system for all female passengers. Male passengers are strictly prohibited from boarding ladies coaches.

*Section 162 of the Railways Act, 1989 empowers Railway Protection Force (RPF) to deal with unauthorised entry into ladies coaches stringently. If found guilty, male passengers may face penalties, fines up to Rs. 500, and even confiscation of their pass or ticket. Male commuters are once again requested not to board ladies coaches failing which serious consequences will follow.*

In recent past, we came across a few incidents where a section of lady commuters are agitating at stations demanding more ladies coaches in EMU trains. *In pursuance of Section 153 of Railways Act, 1989, read with Section 154 & 174, Rail Roko in the name of agitation/protest is punishable and violators are liable to be imprisoned upto 5 years and/or imposed a fine upto Rs. 2000/-*

Passengers are requested to refrain from obstructing Rail movement causing huge inconvenience for lakhs of daily commuters. Suburban EMU services of Sealdah Division is the lifeline of Kolkata as it provides seamless connectivity with North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and parts of Howrah & Hooghly with the City of Joy. Sealdah Division is striving very hard to ensure comfortable and safe journey for millions of passengers with increased sectional speed and improved operational efficiency by reducing congestion. Please co-operate with Railways to serve you better.