Southern Railway takes strict action against vloggers spreading fake AC ticket claims. Are viral videos misleading passengers? Fact-check handle launched to prevent misinformation and ensure railway safety.
New Delhi. Southern Railways is troubled these days by fake videos and reels going viral on social media. Vloggers who call themselves official or trustworthy are spreading misinformation against railway rules. Due to these claims, there is increasing confusion among the passengers and sometimes even arguments with the officials. Now Railways has started legal action against these vloggers. Railway officials say that many people are showing on social media that ‘one can travel in AC coach even by taking ordinary ticket’. It is also being claimed in some videos that for traveling without reservation, only a fine of ₹ 250 will have to be paid and platform ticket is not required. Such claims are misleading passengers and motivating them to break the rules.
Is it really possible to travel in AC without reservation?
Railways has made it clear that this is completely wrong. Reservation is always required to travel in AC compartment. Traveling without reservation is not only against the rules, but can also lead to heavy fines and legal action for the traveller. Railways stressed that taking videography or photographs without permission at stations, yards and depots is an offence. Due to wrong information and fake videos spreading on social media, Railways has now had to take strict steps.
Why are vloggers harassing the Railways?
According to Railways, some vloggers with lakhs of followers are posting such videos. It is being said in these videos that railway rules are easy, fines are less, platform tickets are not necessary. These claims cause many passengers to break rules and argue with staff. Its impact can be clearly seen – crowding at stations increases, officials’ time is wasted and security is at risk.
What steps did the Railways take?
Southern Railway has started legal action. Preparations are being made to register an FIR against the vloggers who spread wrong information. Along with this, Railways has also launched a fact-check handle on the X platform, where any misleading information can be reported. The objective of Railways is that videography and photography in stations, depots and railway premises should be as per the rules. Strict action will be taken against those shooting without permission.
Does the viral video on social media tell the truth?
Railways says that viral videos on social media are often fake, edited or contain incomplete information. Creating and sharing these to mislead passengers is a violation of rules. Railways has appealed to all passengers to get official information only from the Railways website or fact-check handle.
Why are such fake videos increasing? Have the people knowing the truth reduced?
Nowadays, videos like “Railway Jugaad”, “Travel for free in AC”, “If caught without a ticket, survive like this” are going viral on social media. Millions of people see these only for entertainment, but many people believe them to be true and do similar things. Southern Railway says that some vloggers are creating such dangerous content just to increase views and followers. From this:
- Attacks on staff and arguments are increasing
- Incidents of traveling without ticket are increasing
- rules are being misused
- Crowd increases in AC coaches
- security system weakens
- For this reason, Railways is now in no mood to retreat.
What will happen next now? How strict can railways be?
According to sources, Chennai Division is soon going to take steps like FIR against vloggers spreading wrong videos, fine on those shooting without permission in railway premises, complaint from social media platforms and notice to remove wrong content. Railways says that it is very important for the correct information to reach the public, and if anyone deliberately provokes passengers by spreading false information, then strict action will be taken against him.