Traveling without a ticket in Mumbai’s local trains could soon become costlier, with penalties based on the class of travel. Western Railway is planning to submit a proposal to the Railway Board to introduce category-wise fines for ticketless travel. This measure may require amendments to the Railway Act and is expected to ease the crowding faced by valid ticket holders and pass users.
Uniform Penalty Across Classes
Currently, ticketless travellers in local trains are fined ₹250 plus the fare for the respective route. The penalty is the same across all three classes—AC, First Class, and Second Class. However, ticketless passengers traveling in First Class or AC compartments are also required to pay an additional ₹15 GST.
In Mail or Express trains, penalties are higher, depending on the class of travel. Ticketless passengers in Sleeper Class are fined ₹500, while those in First Class and AC are fined ₹750 and ₹1,000, respectively.
Proposed Changes in Railway Act
A Western Railway official explained that introducing class-based fines in local trains could help reduce the crowding caused by ticketless passengers. This move aims to make travel more convenient for valid ticket holders, especially in premium classes like First Class and AC.
An official from the Railway Board noted that implementing this system could be effective in addressing the issue but would require an amendment to the Railway Act. Recent surprise inspections involving 50 to 100 ticket-checking staff at a time have already led to a 25-30% increase in ticket sales at suburban stations.
Passenger Complaints
Regular complaints from passengers highlight the issue of overcrowding caused by ticketless travelers in First Class and AC compartments, leaving valid ticket holders struggling to find seats. A comprehensive ticket-checking campaign has confirmed these complaints.
The Western Railway’s proposal to the Railway Board aims to address this issue by imposing fines based on the travel class, said Vineet Abhishek, CPRO, Western Railway.
