Central Railway has intensified its drive against ticketless and unauthorised travel, recovering more than Rs 227 crore in penalties from nearly 38 lakh offenders during the financial year 2025–26 (April 2025 to February 2026), according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.
Railway officials said the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to ensure a safe, smooth and comfortable travel experience for passengers while discouraging violations across its network.
Nearly 38 lakh ticketless travellers caught
During the period from April 2025 to February 2026, Central Railway’s ticket checking teams apprehended 37.99 lakh passengers travelling without valid tickets or with improper travel authority.
This represents an increase of nearly 10 per cent compared to the 34.60 lakh passengers caught during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
In terms of penalties, the railway recovered a record Rs 227.03 crore, compared to Rs 185.62 crore during the same period last year, marking a rise of more than 22 per cent.
February 2026 also records sharp rise in penalties
Central Railway said the enforcement drives also saw significant results in February 2026, when 3.65 lakh passengers were caught travelling without valid tickets.
The figure is higher than the 3.32 lakh offenders detected in February 2025, indicating an increase of nearly 10 per cent.
During the month, ticket checking teams collected Rs 23.27 crore in penalties, up from Rs 18 crore in February last year, reflecting a rise of nearly 30 per cent.
Mumbai and Bhusaval divisions lead penalty collections
Division-wise data for April 2025 to February 2026 shows that the Mumbai division recorded the highest number of cases, while Bhusaval division recorded the highest penalty collection.
Mumbai division recovered Rs 71.32 crore from 16.16 lakh cases. Bhusaval division collected Rs 75.29 crore from 8.94 lakh cases. Pune division reported Rs 27.14 crore in penalties from 4.31 lakh cases, while Nagpur division recovered Rs 24.93 crore from 4 lakh cases.
Solapur division recorded Rs 10.53 crore in penalties from 2.30 lakh cases, while the headquarters recorded Rs 17.82 crore from 2.28 lakh cases.
Multi-pronged enforcement strategy
Central Railway said it adopts a multi-pronged strategy to detect unauthorised travel, including station checks, ambush checks, fortress checks, intensive drives and mega ticket checking operations.
These drives are conducted across Mail and Express trains, passenger trains, special trains, and suburban services in the Mumbai and Pune divisions.
Passengers urged to travel with valid tickets
The railway administration has appealed to passengers to travel only with valid tickets purchased through authorised booking counters, authorised vendors, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), or online through the IRCTC website and the RailOne mobile application.
Central Railway also warned passengers against using fraudulent methods to generate or obtain fake tickets, stating that such offences are punishable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, 2023, with penalties including fines and imprisonment of up to seven years, or both.
The railway reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards ticketless travel and urged passengers to travel safely, responsibly and with dignity.
