Western Railway cracks down on ticketless travel, collects ₹50 crore in fines

Western Railway has collected over Rs 50 crore in fines from ticketless and irregular travellers in just two months. The crackdown took place between April and May 2026, with a sharp rise in penalties compared to last year. More than 6.80 lakh cases of fare evasion and unbooked luggage were detected during this period. The Mumbai suburban section saw the highest number of violations, with over 2.20 lakh offenders caught. These cases alone resulted in fines totalling around Rs 11.80 crore. Special surprise checks were carried out in AC suburban locals to tackle unauthorised travel, leading to a significant increase in penalties.

In May 2026, ticket-checking teams identified 3.21 lakh offenders and recovered roughly Rs 23 crore. The overall penalties for April and May were 16% higher than the same period in 2025. A notable spike occurred in AC locals, where fines surged by 190% compared to last year.

More than 32,600 cases were detected in AC trains during the two-month period. These violations generated nearly Rs 1 crore in penalties, reflecting stricter enforcement in premium services. The intensified checks have led to a substantial rise in penalty collections. With over Rs 50 crore recovered, the campaign highlights ongoing efforts to reduce fare evasion. Authorities continue to monitor ticket compliance across all train services.