RPF books 3 college boys for loitering on Panvel station

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel RPF team is taking legal action on youngsters, mostly college students, who are found spending leisure time on railway platforms for availing free Wi-Fi facility meant for railway commuters.

On Friday, the Panvel RPF team detained three college boys as they were spotted sitting on the benches at the Panvel platform for a longer duration and not boarding any train. It was later found that the boys had come to the platform for using free Wi-Fi facility.

Panvel RPF inspector Mukesh Sharma said, “It is our routine duty to nab those who trespass in railway's property. Those loitering on platforms without a railway ticket or platform ticket are booked for the offence under the provisions of the Railways Act. If any person is deliberately spending time for several hours on the platform just for availing free Wi-Fi facility which has been provided by IRCTC, then such people are also booked for trespassing.”

Turbhe RPF inspector Lokesh Sagar said, “In the jurisdiction of Turbhe RPF, the free WiFi facility is available only at Vashi platform. Those found unnecessarily spending several hours on the platform for availing free WiFi and that too without a railway ticket or pass, are booked under Section 147 of the Railways Act for entering into any part of a railway without lawful authority and misusing the property or refusing to leave. The offenders are produced at the Kalyan railway court where the magistrate imposes a penalty ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 500.”

Sharma added, “An offence is also registered against those who misuse the waiting room facility on the platforms as some persons have been caught enjoying the air conditioner facility which is meant for commuters. Such miscreants are also booked under section 147 of Railways Act for trespassing, even if they have purchased a platform ticket as an excuse for misuse of railway property.”