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Nearly 5,800 ticketless commuters caught in 12-hour Central Railway crackdown
Special enforcement drive across Mumbai’s suburban network nets ₹25.23 lakh in fines, with AC locals and First Class accounting for most violations
According to Central Railway data for the April–December 2025 period, the Mumbai division alone booked 12.82 lakh ticketless or unauthorised passengers and recovered ₹55.12 crore in penalties. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Central Railway (CR) detected 5,787 cases of ticketless travel during a 12-hour special enforcement drive conducted across its suburban network on Saturday, officials said.
As part of the intensified operation, CR deployed around 750 ticket checkers across 20 key suburban stations and onboard suburban, Mail-Express and shuttle services. The large-scale inspection exercise averaged nearly 482 offenders per hour.
According to railway officials, nearly 62% of those caught were suburban commuters travelling without valid tickets in AC local trains and First Class compartments. In addition to the special drive, routine ticket checks conducted alongside the operation resulted in penalties for another 2,000 passengers.
Of the total cases registered during the 12-hour exercise, 3,527 were detected at 20 suburban railway stations, while 2,215 were caught onboard trains. Ticket inspections were carried out in 60 Mail-Express and shuttle services, including trains operating on the Diva–Roha and Diva–Vasai sections.
The highest number of violations were recorded at Thane, Kalyan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Panvel and Dadar stations. More than 1,200 ticketless commuters were caught at just these top five stations, officials said.
The special drive generated a fine collection of ₹25.23 lakh in just 12 hours. A total of 10 railway officers, along with 38 inspectors, supervisors and ticket checking staff, were deployed across the network during the operation.
They added that similar checking drives would continue in the coming weeks to curb revenue loss and discourage unauthorised travel, particularly in AC locals and First Class compartments, which account for a disproportionate share of violations.
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According to Central Railway data for the April–December 2025 period, the Mumbai division alone booked 12.82 lakh ticketless or unauthorised passengers and recovered ₹55.12 crore in penalties. Officials said the figures explain why high-footfall stations such as Thane, Kalyan, CSMT, Panvel and Dadar continue to be focus areas for special drives.
“The objective is not only to penalise offenders but also to create awareness about the importance of buying valid tickets and maintaining discipline on the suburban network,” said a senior CR official.
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