Thiruvananthapuram: The Railways has banned drunk travelling on Kerala trains as it receives regular complaints, especially from women, over fights caused by drunk passengers in compartments. Not only travelling, but even being on railway platforms after consuming alcohol has also been prohibited.

Passengers will not be able to continue their journey as their tickets will be cancelled. In addition to this, revellers will be slapped with a fine of Rs500 (Dh37) or sent to jail for six months. If the offender is a Railway employee, the jail term will be one year.

So far, only drinking on trains has been banned in Kerala.

Divisional Security Commissioner K.J. Joy said the increasing incidents of harassment of women and disturbance to other passengers by those who consumed alcohol had forced Railways to launch the drive.

He said under Section 145 (A) of the Indian Railway Act, those found guilty will have to pay a fine of Rs500 or go to prison for up to six months.

The anti-drunk travelling drive has yielded immediate result, said Joy. He said 17 people were caught on the Maveli Express, Kannur Express, Amrita Express, and in central station premises in Thrivananthapruam on Thursday, the first day of the operation.

Breathalysers

They were subjected to medical tests at the local hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and will have to appear before the railway court during its next sitting.

He said that the PRF (Railway Protection Force) personnel are provided with breathalysers to record the level of alcohol in a person's system, vital evidence to be produced in the court.

The security commissioner said that the number of complaints was high from night trains, especially from the passengers of the Malabar and the Kannur Express which run only at night.