Western Railway (WR) has launched a new campaign called NAMASTE Abhiyan, beginning on Wednesday, August 6. It stands for Namrata Aur Strong Ticket Examination. The campaign aims to stop fare evasion and improve passenger behaviour.
The first day of the drive was held at Borivali station in Mumbai. During the operation, officials found 5,192 cases of people travelling without tickets or with incorrect tickets. They collected fines worth over INR 13.5 lakh.
About 350 staff members were deployed for the campaign. This included 300 ticket examiners, 30 Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers, and 20 Government Railway Police (GRP) officials.
Western Railway said the campaign will help protect genuine passengers. It also wants to promote safer and more disciplined travel. A senior official said this step is important to stop fare evasion and rude behaviour on trains.
Ticket-checking staff have been given special vests to help them during duty. These vests can hold body cameras, Hand Held Terminals (HHTs), Excess Fare Ticket (EFT) machines, and mini-speakers. These tools will help in better checking and safety.
WR has also set up pre-custody areas at major stations. These zones will help manage passengers who cause trouble. The zones will have CCTV cameras and standard paperwork. They will make it easier and faster to handle such cases. It will also reduce the burden on Head Ticket Checking offices.
The NAMASTE Abhiyan will continue in the coming weeks. Officials said there will be surprise checks at different stations. The goal is not just to fine people but also to teach them. Officials want to build a culture of discipline and fairness.
The campaign was started by the Mumbai Central Division of Western Railway. The name NAMASTE is inspired by the Indian greeting. It stands for politeness and firmness. An official said the idea is to make ticket checking more respectful and modern.
The motto of the drive is “Not simply five fingers in a fist, but ten fingers in a Namaste… forceful, purposeful, and dignified.” The campaign will continue as part of Indian Railways’ efforts to improve passenger experience and reduce problems.