Guwahati, Sept 25: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has reported earnings of Rs 34.06 crore from fines and penalties imposed on ticketless and irregular travellers between April 2024 and September 22, 2024. During this period, 396,101 cases of passengers travelling without valid tickets were detected.
Compared to the same timeframe last year, the number of cases increased by 0.51%, and revenue rose by 0.82%. In the previous financial year, Rs 33.78 crore was collected from 394,076 cases of ticket violations.
To ensure smooth travel for legitimate passengers, NFR regularly conducts intensive ticket-checking drives. These efforts are aimed at curbing ticketless travel, which causes inconvenience to rule-abiding passengers.
From April to August 2024, three surprise ticket-checking drives were carried out with the help of railway magistrates, leading to the prosecution of 167 individuals, with 161 found violating the Railway Act, 1989. Fines collected during these drives, including fare and penalty charges, amounted to Rs 10.58 crore.
NFR has cautioned passengers that travelling without valid tickets or beyond the authorised distance can result in penalties and legal action under the Railways Act. Passengers are encouraged to carry valid journey tickets and ID cards to avoid fines.
To make ticket purchasing easier, the railway offers the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) mobile app, which allows passengers to buy unreserved tickets across the country. The app is available for download on Android and iOS platforms.
