In the wake of a recent fatal accident near Mumbra where four commuters were killed after falling from an overcrowded train, a new ticket-checking policy has been introduced by Central Railway (CR). The initiative, set to begin on June 16, will see ticket-checking teams stationed in every first-class coach during rush hours.
These squads will be assigned to board trains at their origin stations and remain on duty until the end of the line. The step has been taken in response to long-standing concerns about unauthorized travel in premium compartments, and it marks a departure from the earlier approach where ticket inspections were carried out sporadically and mainly during non-peak hours.
The new strategy will be implemented through 10–15 rotating squads, each comprising 7 to 8 ticket checkers. They will be accompanied by personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and will focus primarily on fast trains traveling toward Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) during morning hours from suburban stations such as Karjat, Kalyan, and Ambernath. Instructions have been issued for fare evaders to be fined on the spot. In cases where penalties cannot be paid immediately, offenders will be handed over to station-based staff for further legal action. A reminder has been issued to the public regarding the importance of traveling with valid tickets or passes, and cooperation with railway staff has been requested.
Over the past two years, nearly three million fare evaders have been apprehended, and fines totaling ₹158 crore have been collected. A dedicated WhatsApp line for reporting irregular travel in AC locals has also been introduced and has been in operation since May. In just the last year, 114,000 unauthorized travelers have been caught in air-conditioned coaches, with over ₹3.7 crore recovered in fines. A significant number of these cases were recorded during the hotter months of October, April, and May, suggesting seasonal peaks in fare evasion.
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