Central Railway vigilance officials have successfully dismantled an unauthorised Pay & Park operation at Kalwa (West) station, which had continued even after the official parking contract was terminated on 24 October. The intervention came after complaints of illegal parking on railway land prompted a covert operation on 22 November.
During the operation, a railway staff member paid Rs 100 to park a two-wheeler at the unauthorised lot. The operator returned Rs 70 and issued a counterfeit railway receipt using a hand-held terminal, attempting to create the appearance of legitimacy. The incident immediately alerted the vigilance team, who then seized the illegal setup, bringing operations to a halt. Two individuals managing the unauthorised parking were handed over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), along with seized equipment including a hand-held terminal, Rs 210 in cash, a Paytm QR-code sound device, printing rolls, and several blank receipts. Officials noted that despite the contract termination, the parking site was still operational, with no mandatory “Free Parking” display installed at the kiosk. The unauthorised area reportedly hosted 300–400 two-wheelers, 70–80 auto-rickshaws, and 30–40 four-wheelers on railway property. A preliminary HHT summary indicated that illegal collections amounted to Rs 3,360, with payments through digital platforms such as Paytm still under review by the RPF.
A detailed land assessment by the Engineering Department confirmed that 2,184 sq. metres of railway land were being misused. “The operation was brazenly running on railway land despite the contract termination. Our swift intervention ensures both passenger safety and proper use of public space,” an official said. Industry experts highlighted that unauthorised parking not only undermines contractual and legal frameworks but also disrupts passenger convenience and civic management. Digital and on-site monitoring, they added, are essential to prevent recurrence, particularly in busy suburban stations like Kalwa, which sees high volumes of commuter traffic daily. This enforcement action aligns with broader efforts by Indian Railways to maintain transparent, safe, and citizen-focused operations across all suburban hubs. Ensuring authorised parking, while preventing misuse of public land, contributes to a more sustainable and orderly urban mobility environment.
Passengers and commuters are advised to report any suspected illegal parking to the station authorities or via official railway helplines to safeguard their own convenience and public infrastructure integrity.
Central Railway Shuts Down Illegal Pay Park Setup At Kalwa Station
