The Central Railway (CR) had launched an intensive campaign this month against unauthorised agents who book tickets online in bulk, sometimes using illegal software, and indulge in black-marketing. The Central Railway collected over Rs 11 crore in fines from ticketless travellers during the festive season of Diwali. The teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and CR’s Commercial and Vigilance Departments conducted joint raids at several places over the last few days and seized illegally bought tickets besides making arrests.
As per reports on October 15, a raid was conducted at an outlet near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and 21 tickets worth Rs 80,750, cancelled tickets, Rs 45,750 in cash, 58 filled forms, a CPU, an external hard disk, a receipt book and other documents were seized from the owner who was arrested, CR’s chief PRO Sunil Udasi said. The chief further added saying that it is usually during peak seasons such as Diwali, that these touts try to cash in on the opportunity. “We have started this drive to show our zero tolerance for such activities and it will continue,” the chief added.
A CR spokesperson saod that from October 1 to 21, a total amount of Rs 11.35 crore was collected in fines against Rs 7.03 crore in the corresponding period the previous year, thereby registering an increase of 61.48 per cent. The reports further added that these fines were recovered from 2.20 lakh commuters who were ticketless or had excess luggage as against 1.52 lakh during the same period last year; an increase of 44.90 per cent.
