Nagpur: Central Railway’s Nagpur division has taken stringent action against the misuse of the Alarm Chain Pulling (ACP) system, prosecuting 88 passengers for unnecessarily pulling the chain between June 1 and June 20, 2025. This reckless behaviour led to the detention of 52 trains in the division, causing delays of 10-15 minutes per incident and disrupting schedules, impacting thousands of passengers across the region.The ACP system, intended solely for emergencies in suburban, mail, or express trains, has been misused for trivial reasons, including missing trains, retrieving dropped mobile phones, or accidental pulls.Nagpur division reported a sharp rise in such incidents, with 52 ACP cases this year compared to 28 during the same period in 2024 — a 46% increase. This surge contributed to Central Railway’s overall 53% rise in ACP-related detentions, with 150 trains affected network-wide from June 1 to June 19, 2025, compared to 98 last year.The delays in Nagpur division have had a cascading effect, disrupting not only the affected trains but also subsequent services, leading to overcrowding and inconvenience at stations. Across Central Railway, 666 ACP cases were registered during this period, with 463 passengers prosecuted and fines amounting to Rs 1.7 lakh collected. Nagpur division alone imposed Rs 28,900 in penalties for its 132 registered cases, underscoring the scale of the issue in the region.Central Railway’s Nagpur division authorities have emphasised that pulling the alarm chain for non-emergency purposes is a punishable offence under Section 141 of the Railways Act. The misuse of ACP for the convenience of a few passengers causes significant delays, affecting countless others. To curb such incidents, the railway urges passengers to arrive at stations well in advance, carry minimal luggage, and use available services like battery-operated cars or wheelchairs for senior citizens and differently-abled passengers to board trains smoothly.Nagpur division officials are vigilantly monitoring ACP incidents and have pledged to enforce strict penalties to deter offenders. Central Railway appeals to passengers in the division to use the ACP system responsibly, ensuring efficient train operations and minimising disruptions.
