Western Railway has successfully amassed over ₹50 crore in fines from ticketless travelers, thanks to rigorous ticket inspection drives conducted throughout its network during April and May 2026, officials reported. An official statement revealed that approximately 6.80 lakh passengers were found traveling without valid tickets, including instances of unbooked luggage. This collection of ₹50.33 crore represents a remarkable 16% increase from the ₹43.54 crore collected during the same time frame last year.
To combat ticketless travel and enhance the overall travel experience for passengers, Western Railway implemented extensive checking measures on Mumbai suburban services, Mail and Express trains, passenger trains, and special holiday services. Ticket checking teams, supervised by senior commercial officers, conducted regular inspections across various segments of the railway network.
In May 2026 alone, the Western Railway identified about 3.21 lakh ticketless and irregular passengers. This month-long enforcement initiative yielded around ₹23 crore in penalties, underscoring the magnitude of the anti-ticketless travel initiative, according to the statement. Authorities also executed surprise checks on air-conditioned suburban local trains to deter unauthorized travel.
During the April-May period, over 32,600 violations were recorded in AC local trains, leading to nearly ₹1 crore in fines, marking a substantial increase of around 190% compared to the ₹34.90 lakh collected in the previous year.
In the Mumbai suburban section, Western Railway detected more than 2.20 lakh cases of ticketless travel during these two months, resulting in penalty collections of about ₹11.80 crore.
The railway administration emphasized that these enforcement drives aim to mitigate revenue losses, uphold passenger discipline, and promote equitable travel practices. Passengers are encouraged to ensure they travel with valid tickets and appropriate documentation to avoid facing penalties and any related inconveniences.