MUMBAI: Western Railway (WR) is stepping up its efforts to curb ticketless travellers on local train. Passengers caught without a valid ticket and refusing to pay the fine may now be held in a designated ‘pre-custody area’ set up on station platforms. Additionally, ticket-checking staff are being equipped with body cameras to record interactions with offenders and maintain a database of repeat violators who may face higher fines.
Currently pre-custody areas have been set up at Borivali and Andheri station but soon the trails for these pre-custody areas will gradually expand across the Churchgate-Virar-Dahanu suburban route. A few ticket checkers (TCs) have also been provided with body cameras, which are being tested for their effectiveness in identifying fare evaders.
“These designated areas are meant to prevent ticketless passengers from escaping,” said a WR official. “Many of them argue and refuse to pay the fine, causing delays. Now, they will be directed to the pre-custody area, where staff will explain the rules to them. If they still refuse to cooperate, a memo will be issued, and they will be handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF).”
On January 23, WR conducted a ticket-checking drive at multiple stations using this approach. During the drive, more than 7,300 passengers were found traveling without tickets, resulting in fines totalling ₹32.16 lakh.
“We plan to gradually provide all TCs with body cameras to document all their interactions with passengers,” another WR official stated. “Details such as name and contact number will be recorded, and the data of bodycams will be stored in our system. This will help identify repeat offenders who have been caught multiple times within a short period. The recorded videos will also serve as evidence under the Railway Act.”
WR officials are in the process of determining which additional documents can be collected from ticketless travellers and added to the database. Sources suggest that identity proofs required for issuing season passes may also be included. The body cameras, costing around ₹10,000 each, can record up to 10 hours of footage, which will then be uploaded to the system for reference.
