Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, May 24

The Northern Railway’s Jammu Railway Division said it recovered Rs 5.13 lakh in penalties from 1061 ticketless and irregular passengers during a two-day special ticket-checking drive across the division.

Railway officials said the drive was carried out on trains and at major railway stations under the Jammu division as part of efforts to improve passenger convenience, ensure safety and protect railway revenue.

“Jammu Railway Division is continuously taking stringent steps to ensure passenger convenience, safety and protection of railway revenue,” said Raghvender Singh.

“During a two-day special drive, railway checking staff along with security forces conducted surprise checks on various trains and railway stations. A total of 1,061 passengers were found travelling in violation of rules, and Rs 5.13 lakh was recovered as fare and penalty,” he said.

According to official figures, action was taken against 471 passengers on May 22, the first day of the campaign, during checks conducted at major stations and aboard long-distance and local trains.

On May 23, officials detected 590 cases of ticketless and irregular travel, taking the two-day total to 1,061.

Railway authorities said all violators were booked under relevant provisions of the Railways Act.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the purpose of the exercise was not limited to revenue collection but also aimed at safeguarding the rights of passengers travelling with valid tickets.

“Ticketless travellers not only cause financial loss to the Railways, but also make travel uncomfortable for passengers with reserved tickets by occupying seats unauthorisedly,” Singhal said.

Officials said such enforcement drives would continue across the division in the coming days.