Mumbai: Western Railway collects Rs 61.26 crore in fines from intensive ticket checking

Representational Pic/WR

Western Railway has cracked down on ticketless and irregular passengers during the months of April to July 2023, raking in fines totaling an impressive Rs 61.26 crore. This marks a significant increase of more than 180 per cent in fines collected from intensive ticket checking drives, especially on AC local trains, an official statement by the Western Railway said on Tuesday.

According to the Western Railway, the railway authorities have been tirelessly working to ensure smooth and comfortable travel for all genuine passengers. They have been conducting thorough ticket checking drives across various services, including Mumbai suburban local trains, Mail/Express trains, passenger trains, and special holiday trains. This initiative aims to put a stop to the problem of passengers traveling without proper tickets or using irregular ones.

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The statement further said that senior commercial officers have been leading a dedicated team of ticket checkers who have been zealously enforcing the rules.

It said, during July 2023 alone, an impressive Rs 10.43 crore was collected by identifying and penalizing 1.81 lakh ticketless or irregular passengers, including cases of unbooked luggage. Furthermore, fines worth ₹2.56 crore were imposed for over 58,000 violations in the Mumbai Suburban section during the same month.

To ensure that unauthorized passengers do not gain entry to AC local trains, surprise ticket checks are being conducted frequently. These surprise checks have led to the penalization of more than 26,000 unauthorized passengers between April and July 2023, resulting in a collection of Rs 87.11 lakhs in fines. This represents a remarkable increase of over 180 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The Western Railway administration urges the general public to travel responsibly by obtaining proper and valid tickets before boarding trains. This not only ensures a hassle-free journey but also contributes to the overall improvement of the railway services.

The recent surge in fines collected from ticketless and irregular passengers reflects the railway's commitment to providing quality travel experiences for genuine passengers and upholding the principles of fair travel. As Western Railway continues its efforts to maintain a seamless travel experience, passengers are reminded to play their part by adhering to ticketing rules and regulations.