Mumbai: The number of ticketless passengers traveling on AC local trains in the Mumbai Division of Central Railway has seen a sharp increase between April 2024 and January 2025. During this period, railway authorities detected 81,709 cases of ticketless travel, a significant rise compared to 35,885 cases recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
This marks a 127 percent surge, with fines totaling Rs 2.70 crore, a substantial increase from the Rs 1.19 crore collected last year. The intensified ticket-checking campaign is part of Central Railway’s ongoing efforts to ensure legitimate travel and enhance the commuting experience on Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which serves approximately 3.9 million passengers daily.
In January 2025 alone, Rs 27.82 lakh was collected from 8,535 cases, reflecting a 135 percent rise in revenue and a 143 percent increase in cases compared to January 2024, when Rs 11.83 lakh was recovered from 3,511 defaulters. A similar trend was observed in December 2024, with Rs 29.56 lakh collected from 9,134 cases.
To curb fare evasion, Central Railway has introduced several initiatives to strengthen ticket enforcement. A dedicated AC Task Force has been deployed on suburban trains to conduct regular checks. Additionally, a WhatsApp complaint helpline (7208819987) has been launched for passengers to report issues during peak hours. A Special Monitoring Team has also been formed to oversee irregular travel cases and ensure stricter compliance.
Railway authorities have reiterated their commitment to providing a safe and seamless travel experience, urging commuters to purchase valid tickets to avoid penalties and contribute to the efficiency of Mumbai’s suburban rail network.