In a swift eight-hour operation on Saturday, more than 1,600 individuals found themselves on the wrong side of the law as fines were issued for traveling without valid tickets on local trains. A Hindustan Times report mentioned that the Western Railway (WR) deployed a substantial team of 195 ticket-checking staff at Dadar West station as part of a comprehensive campaign against ticketless travel on the Western Line. The fines collected during this operation surpassed Rs. 4.60 lakh.
Footfall at Dadar Station and Expanding the Crackdown
Dadar station, one of the city's busiest transportation hubs, witnesses a daily footfall ranging from 3 to 5 lakh passengers. This operation, which commenced at 8 am and continued until 4 pm on September 30, was regarded by WR officials as one of the most substantial fortress checks in the history of Indian Railways. Following the success of the September 30 operation, similar ticket-checking drives were conducted on October 1 at Borivali, Bandra, and Dadar stations. The decision to deploy ticket collectors (TCs) in stations and trains was prompted by numerous complaints regarding ticketless travelers, particularly in AC locals and first-class compartments of local trains.
Rigorous Ticket Checking
In explaining the operation, a WR official mentioned that efforts had been made to ensure that a human chain was formed by the TCs on the FOBs (Foot Over Bridges), and tickets were requested from all passersby. It was noted that observations had been made of people sharing on social media, encouraging others to purchase tickets at Dadar. The stated goal was to ensure that individuals traveled with valid authorized tickets, and it was emphasized that these enforcement efforts would continue. The official also noted that commuters had generally been cooperative during the checks. However, many of those who were caught without tickets had cited the habit formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they claimed they were rarely asked for tickets.
Challenges and the Way Forward
The WR authorities have been strengthening their staff, with new TCs joining the ongoing campaign. One notable challenge they have encountered is related to the mode of payment. In the post-COVID era, digital payments have taken precedence, and it is a common practice for commuters not to carry substantial amounts of cash. Consequently, difficulties have been arising in the collection of fines in cash by on-ground staff. Kailash Verma, president of the Mumbai Rail Users Cell, suggested that efforts should be made by the railways to enable people to make digital payments and emphasized the need for providing QR code-based devices. Additionally, he proposed the implementation of stricter controls on ticketless cases by the railways.
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