Railways Launch Festive Season Crackdown on Ticketless Travellers

The Railway Ministry is initiating a special ticket-checking drive from October 1 to 15 and October 25 to November 10 to curb ticketless travel, focusing on pervasive offenders, including policemen. By fining violators, the initiative aims to ensure passenger comfort during the festive season.

The Railway Ministry has announced the commencement of a special ticket-checking drive during the festive season aimed at curbing ticketless travel. The operation will span from October 1 to 15 and October 25 to November 10, specifically targeting commonly noted violators, including policemen.

The Ministry cited the Railway Act of 1989 as the governing law for taking action against unauthorized travellers. Recent checks revealed hundreds of policemen travelling without tickets, leading to fines and confrontations. Despite initial resistance, officials managed to enforce penalties, earning praise from compliant passengers.

The focus on unauthorized travellers, especially ticketless policemen, comes amid numerous complaints about their disruptive behavior. In the last quarter alone, the Prayagraj division fined 1,17,633 ticketless travellers, amassing over Rs 9 crore. Rail officials urge police departments to discipline offending officers to uphold the law and passenger comfort.

(With inputs from agencies.)