Passengers waiting at Siwan Junction in Bihar faced a bizarre situation on the morning of February 14, 2026. The large LED screens installed on the platform, usually reserved for train timings and coach positions, suddenly started playing a loud Bhojpuri song. The incident left travelers confused and shocked, while videos of the blunder quickly went viral on social media platforms like X and Facebook.
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How did the incident unfold?
The disruption occurred at a busy time when many passengers were checking for train updates. Instead of the usual digital text showing arrival and departure times, the screens broadcasted a music video with high volume. Reports indicate that the song played for several minutes before station staff managed to turn it off. Local station officials are facing questions regarding the delay in stopping the unauthorized broadcast, which caused significant commotion at the transit hub.
What action is the Railway taking?
The Varanasi Division of North Eastern Railway has taken serious note of this lapse. An inquiry has been initiated to determine if this was a breach of digital security or a deliberate prank by the staff handling the system. The administration has stated that strict action will be taken against the private contractor responsible for maintaining the screens.
According to Railway Board guidelines regarding the Railway Display Network (RDN), the penalties for such violations are severe:
- The agency responsible for the screen faces immediate blacklisting.
- An FIR will be filed under the IT Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
- The advertising contract is liable for cancellation.
- Financial penalties usually exceeding ₹1 lakh may be imposed on the contractor.
Is this related to the station upgrade?
Siwan Junction is currently being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme with a budget of ₹40.13 crore. The digital screens involved in this incident were recently installed as part of this modernization project, which has a completion deadline of March 2026. This incident has drawn comparisons to a similar case at Patna Junction in 2023, where strict action was taken against the operating agency for displaying inappropriate content. Authorities are ensuring such technical lapses do not happen again as the station moves towards a smart infrastructure model.
