Chennai: Southern Railways carried out a surprise drive and found 389 persons traveling without tickets.
The ticket checking drive was led by Additional Divisional Railway Manager -III Chennai Division, K Manoj, along with 25 ticket checking staff and Railway protection personnel.
The ticket checking drives were carried out in Chennai Central-Arakkonam and Chennai Egmore-Villupuram sections on 24 and 25 August.
Speaking to News Today, Manoj said, ‘We not only penalised those without tickets but also who travel recklessly on foot board and
causing trouble for other passengers.’
Manoj and his team checked five EMUs and three express trains (12679, 12695 & 17311) on the Chennai-Arakkonam sector. The ticket checking drive in this sector saw a total of 195 cases and Rs 73,080 were collected as fine and penalty amounts.
Manoj also added that the ticket checking drives are being conducted every week to reduce down the number of passengers riding without tickets. ‘We have also placed Railway personnels to check the passengers’ tickets before they board the trains,’ he said.
On Chennai Egmore – Villupuram sector, 269 persons were found traveling without tickets and were charged while checking four express trains (16105, 16115, 12637 & 16115 Exp), one passenger train (56038) and one EMU train. An amount of Rs 79,870 was collected as fine from the defaulters, the press release said.