In a major crackdown on ticketless travel, the Varanasi Division of the North Eastern Railway (NER) executed an intensive Fortress Check campaign on Wednesday. The operation aimed to curb revenue loss, enhance system security, and deter passengers from travelling without valid tickets or with irregular documents.
Massive Fines and Recoveries During the Drive
The special drive was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Commercial Manager-III P N Mishra. Teams carried out rigorous checks at key stations and on trains running within the division. The results were significant: 446 passengers were caught travelling without any ticket, leading to a recovery of ₹2,41,145 in penalties.
Furthermore, the checking staff identified 270 passengers travelling with irregular tickets, such as wrong class or expired passes, and recovered an additional ₹1,40,280 from them. In total, the one-day campaign penalised 716 individuals and recovered a combined sum of ₹3,81,425.
November Revenue Sees a Staggering 71% Jump
This drive is part of a sustained effort to improve railway revenue. According to an NER Varanasi spokesperson, the division's ticket-checking initiatives are yielding remarkable results. In the month of November alone, the Varanasi Division generated a ticket-checking income of ₹3.1 crore by charging 43,142 passengers.
This figure represents a dramatic 71.01% increase compared to the revenue collected from similar checks in the same month last year, highlighting the effectiveness of the ongoing vigilance.
Objectives and Future Impact
The Fortress Check campaign had clear, multi-pronged objectives:
- To prevent and deter ticketless travel.
- To stop the use of incorrect or irregular tickets.
- To eliminate revenue leakage for the railways.
- To create a more secure and transparent ticketing system for all passengers.
The substantial fines and the soaring monthly revenue indicate that such campaigns are crucial for ensuring that all passengers pay their fair share. It also sends a strong message about the administration's commitment to enforcing rules and improving the financial health of the railway network. The success of the November operations suggests that similar intensive drives are likely to continue in the future.
