The Railway Ministry has initiated a special ticket-checking drive to curb ticketless travel during the festive season, particularly targeting habitual violators, including policemen. The campaign will run from October 1 to 15 and October 25 to November 10, aiming to ensure compliance with the Railway Act of 1989. Railway officials have noted that policemen are frequent offenders, often travelling without tickets, especially in AC coaches. A recent surprise check between Ghaziabad and Kanpur found several policemen travelling without tickets, refusing to pay fines and threatening railway staff. Despite this, railway officers enforced the fines, receiving positive feedback from passengers.
According to railway commercial officers, the focus will be on both unauthorised travellers and policemen, as they frequently cause disruptions and harass passengers with valid tickets. North Central Railway officials reported that over 1.17 lakh passengers were fined ?9.14 crore in just three months in the Prayagraj Division alone for travelling without tickets. However, no specific data for policemen is maintained.
The Indian Railway Ticket Checking Staff Organisation (IRTCSO) has raised concerns over the behaviour of policemen, citing numerous incidents where they harassed both railway staff and passengers. IRTCSO President Sanjay Singh urged police departments to take action against offending personnel, as their behaviour tarnishes the reputation of law enforcement.
The Railway Ministry is encouraging senior officials to monitor the drive at both divisional and zonal levels. The results of the drive are expected to be reported by November 18. This effort aims to improve the travel experience for passengers during the festive rush.
