The East Central Railway (ECR) has reported significant results from its intensive, month-long enforcement campaign conducted across all five of its divisions in December. The twin drives, named 'Operation Samay Palan' and 'Operation Mahila Suraksha', targeted specific violations of the Railway Acts, leading to widespread penal action.
Operation Samay Palan: Curbing Alarm Chain Misuse
Launched specifically to tackle the persistent problem of unnecessary alarm chain pulling (ACP), Operation Samay Palan led to decisive action under Section 141 of the Railway Act. Throughout the drive period from December 1 to December 31, railway authorities arrested a total of 1,032 individuals across the ECR zone for illegally pulling the alarm chain without genuine emergency.
Breaking down the figures, the ECR's Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Saraswati Chandra, provided a division-wise breakdown. The Danapur division recorded the highest number of cases with 429 arrests. It was followed by Samastipur division with 266 arrests, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) division with 131, Sonepur with 116, and Dhanbad division with 90 arrests.
Operation Mahila Suraksha: Ensuring Women's Safety
Conducted simultaneously, Operation Mahila Suraksha was intensified to protect the safety and dignity of women passengers travelling on the network. Under this initiative, checks were ramped up against unauthorised travel in compartments reserved for women.
Enforcement under Section 162 of the Railway Act resulted in penalties for a substantial number of passengers. In total, 2,629 passengers were fined for travelling without authorisation in ladies' coaches during the December drive.
Once again, Danapur division topped this list with a staggering 1,371 cases. The DDU division followed with 706 cases, then Samastipur (240), Sonepur (166), and Dhanbad (146), as confirmed by CPRO Chandra.
A Strong Message on Railway Discipline
The scale of action during this focused month underscores the railway administration's commitment to enforcing rules and ensuring a secure, orderly travel environment. The two operations addressed two critical pain points: the misuse of emergency facilities and the violation of reserved spaces meant for women's security.
By taking strict legal action against over 3,660 individuals combined, the East Central Railway has sent a clear message about the consequences of flouting railway regulations. Such targeted drives are expected to continue as part of efforts to improve passenger experience and operational efficiency on one of India's crucial railway networks.
