Ticketless Crowd Disrupts Inaugural Run of Bihar’s Vande Bharat, Sparks Online Debate

The Vande Bharat Express is widely recognised for its speed, modern amenities, and premium travel experience.

However, even the country’s most advanced trains are not immune to operational challenges, as seen during the inaugural run of Bihar’s first Vande Bharat service.

A video circulating on social media platform X showed several individuals without valid tickets entering and crowding the train, treating it like a regular passenger service. The footage captured fellow passengers and bystanders urging the ticketless individuals to disembark before the train doors closed.

It remains unclear whether those involved were attempting to travel without paying or had merely boarded the train out of curiosity to see the newly launched service. Nevertheless, the incident triggered a sharp debate online, with reactions ranging from criticism of civic behaviour to concerns about railway enforcement.

One user commenting on the video claimed that in parts of Bihar, travelling without tickets has become habitual due to the existence of unofficial or illegal railway stops near villages. The user controversially remarked that if such practices continue unchecked, some people might even attempt to travel without tickets on flights.

Others pushed back against this narrative. A section of users argued that the individuals may have boarded the train only to view it and should not be hastily criminalised. Some blamed poor public awareness, while others linked the issue to broader socio-economic inequalities and governance failures.

The discussion also drew comparisons with stricter enforcement in other states. Users pointed out that at stations such as Bengaluru’s SMVT and several stations in Kerala, entry to platforms is tightly regulated through mandatory platform tickets and frequent police checks, resulting in far better crowd control.

Railways’ Responsibility Under the Law

Amid the public debate, legal experts highlighted a recent observation by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, as reported by Live Law. The Court ruled that the Indian Railways can be held accountable if ticketless passengers are allowed to overcrowd trains and a genuine passenger is injured or killed as a result.

The ruling arose from an appeal under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987, where compensation had initially been denied despite the victim being a bona fide passenger. The High Court clarified that it is the Railways’ statutory duty to ensure that only passengers with valid tickets are permitted to board trains. Failure to prevent ticketless travel, leading to overcrowding and harm, constitutes negligence and can attract liability for compensation.

The incident involving Bihar’s Vande Bharat has thus renewed focus not only on passenger behaviour, but also on the responsibility of railway authorities to enforce rules strictly—especially on premium and high-profile services intended to set new standards for rail travel in India.