Stepping up enforcement against ticketless and irregular travel, Indian Railways collected ₹1,781 crore in penalties during the financial year 2024–25 (FY25). The amount was realised through action taken against passengers travelling without valid tickets, with improper tickets, or with unbooked luggage. The information was shared by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
According to the Railway Ministry, travelling without a ticket or in violation of prescribed rules is a punishable offence under the Railways Act, 1989. In such cases, passengers are required to pay the full fare for the distance travelled along with an additional penalty or excess charge of at least ₹250. For instance, a passenger travelling without a ticket in the sleeper class from Patna to Buxar in Bihar may be charged up to ₹350, including the applicable fare of ₹100 and the penalty.
Seat Shortage Cited as Key Reason
The Railway Minister said the primary reason behind unauthorised travel is the gap between passenger demand and seat availability. During festivals, holidays and special occasions, passenger volumes surge sharply, while the capacity of regular services remains limited. To ease this pressure, the Railways is compelled to operate a large number of special trains every year.
Vaishnaw informed Parliament that by November 2025 in the 2025–26 financial year, the Railways had operated around 60,000 special train services. In addition, more than 700 extra coaches were added on a permanent basis to expand capacity. During the same period, over 200 new train services were introduced, including 28 Vande Bharat Express trains, 26 Amrit Bharat Express services, and two Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services.
Ticket-Checking Drives and Technology Push
To curb ticketless travel, the Railways has intensified regular ticket-checking drives across the country. Zonal railways periodically conduct special enforcement campaigns on trains and at stations. According to the Ministry, ticket-checking staff have been equipped with over 30,000 hand-held terminals (HHTs).
These tablet-like devices have replaced the old paper chart system. Using HHTs, Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) can download reservation charts, verify passenger tickets, manage waiting lists, allocate vacant berths and calculate as well as collect penalties on the spot. The Railways claims this has significantly improved transparency, accuracy in calculations and accountability.
Station-Level Changes Underway
Enforcement is not limited to trains alone. The Railways is also streamlining ticket checks at stations. Special holding areas are being developed at 76 major stations across the country, modeled on the system at New Delhi Railway Station. The objective is to regulate passenger entry to platforms and ensure orderly ticket verification, thereby effectively restricting the movement of ticketless travellers.
Comparison With Previous Years
As per data from the Railways’ Year Book, in FY24, around 5.39 lakh ticket-checking drives were conducted against ticketless and irregular travel. During these drives, 361.05 lakh cases were detected, resulting in a recovery of ₹2,232 crore. In FY23, the amount collected stood at ₹2,260 crore, while in FY22, recoveries were ₹1,575 crore. The figures underline a sustained tightening of enforcement over the past few years.
Discipline Versus Passenger Pressure
Railway officials acknowledge that while meeting rising travel demand remains a major challenge, ensuring compliance with rules is equally critical. According to the Ministry, despite the operation of special trains and capacity augmentation, indiscipline and unauthorised travel pose risks to both operational safety and passenger convenience.
The government’s approach now focuses on expanding capacity alongside strict enforcement of legal provisions. The Railways believes that a combined strategy of rigorous ticket checks, technology-driven monitoring and infrastructure upgrades will enable more effective control over ticketless travel in the coming years.
