Mumbai Local News: CR recovers INR 49.50 crores as penalty from 7.40 lakh ticketless offenders

Central Railway, in its commitment to ensure safe, smooth and dignified travel, has intensified action against unauthorised and ticketless travel across its network. The increase in minimum penalty coupled with intensified ticket checking drives has yielded significant results during the FY 2026-27 (upto July 2026).

During the period April to July 2026, Central Railway’s dedicated ticket checking teams apprehended 15.46 lakh passengers travelling without ticket, with improper or invalid travel authority, and realised a record penalty amount of INR 121.31 crores. 

This is against 14.42 lakh cases and penalty of INR 86.73 crores registered during the corresponding period last year, indicating an increase of more than 7% in the number of cases and an increase of almost 40% in earnings.

 

Division-wise performance during the period April to July 2026:

• Mumbai division: INR 49.50 crores from 7.40 lakh cases

• Bhusawal division: INR 31.99 crores from 3.05 lakh cases 

• Pune division: INR 13.62 crores from 1.57 lakh cases

• Nagpur division: INR 13.77 crores from 1.86 lakh cases

• Solapur division: INR 5 crores from 0.81 lakh cases

• Headquarters: INR 7.44 crores from 0.77 lakh cases

 

Central Railway ticket checking teams apprehended 2.60 lakh passengers travelling without ticket/valid ticket as against 3.08 lakh in July 2025. A sum of INR 20.10 crores was realised as penalty in July 2026 as against INR 16 crores in July 2025, indicating an increase of more than 25%. 

 

Travelling without a valid ticket is an offence under the Railways Act and attracts penal action. Ticketless travel also impacts railway revenue, which is utilised for improving passenger amenities, safety and infrastructure

In a major step to deter passengers from travelling without valid tickets and to ensure greater compliance with ticketing rules, the Ministry of Railways enhanced the minimum penalty for ticketless travel from INR 250 to INR 500/-

Following the revision, Central Railway has continued intensive ticket checking drives across the network adopting a multi-pronged strategy including station checks, ambush checks, fortress checks, intensive checks, and mega ticket checking drives. These operations are conducted across Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Special trains, as well as Suburban trains in Mumbai and Pune divisions.

 

Central Railway appeals to all passengers to travel with dignity and responsibility by purchasing proper and valid tickets to avoid inconvenience and penalties. The Railway reiterates its zero-tolerance policy towards ticketless travel and remains committed to ensuring that passengers enjoy a comfortable and dignified journey.