Mumbai: In a major effort to combat ticketless travel, the Western Railway’s Dedicated Ticket Checking Division launched a special operation, named 'Fortress Check', at Dadar Railway Station on February 20, 2025. The crackdown led to the detection of 1,105 cases of passengers traveling without valid tickets, underscoring the scale of irregular travel on the network.
The operation, which took place across trains and stations in the region, involved a team of approximately 100 trained ticket checking personnel. The thorough checks resulted in the recovery of Rs 3,00,365 in lost revenue, a significant amount reflecting the prevalence of ticketless travel.
‘Fortress Checks’ are a common practice at busy railway stations in Mumbai, especially at key entry and exit points, to catch passengers traveling without tickets. These operations are conducted at regular intervals to ensure maximum effectiveness. "The number of ticketless travelers, particularly in air-conditioned local trains, is quite high," said Suresh Jain, a Kandivali resident and frequent air-conditioned train commuter.
Railway authorities expressed satisfaction with the success of the initiative, highlighting the importance of such operations in maintaining the integrity, safety, and financial health of the railway system. "This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to curb irregular travel and maintain the smooth functioning of the railway network," said an official.
The Western Railway also emphasized the need for passengers to adhere to railway regulations. "With continued operations like 'Fortress Check', we are reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that irregular travel does not go unchecked, which will contribute to the operational efficiency of the railway system," the official added.
