New Delhi (Metro Rail & Steel) : As the festive season brings a surge of passengers to India’s railways, the Indian Railways has launched a special drive to crack down on ticketless travelers across the country. The national transporter has issued a stern warning that those found traveling without a ticket will face consequences. This initiative, which commenced on Friday, is a response to the growing instances of unauthorized travel.
The Railway Board, the apex body governing Indian Railways, has issued a comprehensive order to all zonal railways, laying out the specifics of this drive. The campaign is set to run from October 20 to November 27, ensuring that it covers the peak of the festive season. The drive is expected to enforce ticketing regulations rigorously.
Under the guidance of Executive Director of Passenger Marketing, Neeraj Sharma, the special drive will have a multi-pronged approach. It will examine accommodation allocated under emergency quotas and reservations secured against specific categories, such as senior citizens and cancer patients. This scrutiny is aimed at curbing any misuse of these provisions and ensuring that they are utilized by those who genuinely need them.
To ensure the success of this drive, all railway zones in the country have received instructions to appoint senior-level officers responsible for monitoring the campaign. This approach aims to provide effective oversight at both the divisional and zonal levels, making certain that all travelers adhere to the railway’s ticketing policies.
The need for the special drive is underscored by the alarming increase in instances of ticketless travel. As per a Right to Information (RTI) response quoted by news agency PTI, Indian Railways apprehended a staggering 3.6 crore passengers traveling without valid tickets or with incorrect ones during the fiscal year 2022-23.
To put this in perspective, in 2019-2020, approximately 1.10 crore passengers were caught traveling without valid tickets or with incorrect ones. In 2021-22, this number escalated to 2.7 crore, and in the fiscal year 2022-23, it reached a concerning 3.6 crore. This worrisome trend has compelled Indian Railways to take proactive measures to ensure that all passengers adhere to the ticketing regulations. Keeping the festive season in mind, the Indian Railways has introduced a series of special train services, particularly for Diwali, Dussehra, and Chhath Puja. The Northern Railway, has announced 34 special trains to meet the high demand.
