Mumbai: In a major crackdown on ticketless travel, Western Railway (WR) has recovered a whopping ₹62.31 crore in fines from April to August 2024. This was part of an intensive ticket-checking drive conducted across Mumbai suburban services, Mail/Express trains, passenger trains, and special holiday trains. The operation was aimed at ensuring smoother and more comfortable travel for legitimate passengers.
Of the total amount, over ₹20 crore was collected from ticketless and irregular passengers traveling in Mumbai's suburban section, according to an official statement by Western Railway’s Public Relations Department.
In August alone, WR collected ₹4.96 crore in fines from 1.19 lakh passengers traveling without proper tickets or with unbooked luggage. The Mumbai Suburban section saw 82,000 cases, contributing ₹2.62 crore in fines.
To curb unauthorized travel in AC local trains, WR also conducted surprise checks, penalizing nearly 23,800 unauthorized passengers between April and August 2024, adding ₹78 lakh to the fines collected.
Western Railway's extensive drive, spearheaded by senior commercial officers, highlights its commitment to enhancing the travel experience for genuine passengers while taking strong action against ticketless travel.