Jabalpur Railway Catches One Lakh Offenders, Collects Rs 15 Crore in Fines
In a significant revenue enforcement drive, the Jabalpur Railway Division recorded over one lakh ticketless and irregular passengers in June 2025, the highest in the West Central Railway zone. The division alone accounted for nearly half of all such offences detected across the zone, collecting ₹15.93 crore in fines. Officials attribute the rise to sustained vigilance and stricter enforcement, especially against passengers using invalid tickets or carrying unbooked luggage in higher-class coaches.
Railway officials say this enforcement surge stems from an intensified crackdown on ticketless travel, part of a broader drive by the West Central Railway zone to curb revenue leakages. Jabalpur’s contribution represents nearly 50% of the total 2.14 lakh offenders caught across the zone in the same period, setting a new benchmark for operational efficiency. Beyond June, the trend has remained consistent. In May and April 2025, the division had recorded 1.96 lakh and 1.48 lakh such cases, respectively, collecting ₹14.49 crore and ₹10.30 crore in penalties. Authorities noted that common infractions included passengers with general class tickets entering Sleeper or AC compartments, and goods being moved without authorised booking.
The division has since increased inspection frequency and deployed more staff on high-traffic routes. Officials emphasise that travelling without valid tickets not only causes financial strain but also disrupts the reservation system and commuter planning. They have urged all passengers to maintain compliance, citing that stricter checks will continue across the network. With the sustained momentum of enforcement, the division’s strategy appears to be paying off—both in deterrence and revenue generation. However, railway experts argue that long-term success must include awareness campaigns, technology-driven ticketing systems, and incentives for early booking to reduce intentional fare violations.
By strengthening its enforcement systems, Jabalpur Railway Division is emerging as a model of operational discipline and revenue protection, demonstrating how focused checks can uphold passenger accountability while contributing significantly to the financial health of the Indian Railways network.
