Kannur: Men who board 'ladies' coaches on trains, despite clear markings inside and outside these coaches, are facing fines of Rs 500. This action follows an increasing number of complaints and aims to enforce rules under Section 162, which mandates fines for such offences. 

Last year, 2,424 people were fined a total of Rs 9.11 lakh, and in 2022, 1,153 people faced fines totaling Rs 4.70 lakh. The Railway Protection Force will monitor and address these violations. However, their absence during these incidents remains a challenge. 

Some mistakenly board these coaches during busy times. In Kerala, trains such as Parasuram, Vanchinad, and Venad have two ladies coaches each, while Malabar, Maveli and Ernad Express have one each. For security, ladies coaches are positioned in the middle of the train and behind the guard. However, changes in this arrangement have caused confusion among commuters, leading to men mistakenly entering ladies coaches.