Mumbai Central Division has deployed 30 specially designed jackets for ticket-checking staff on a pilot basis, aiming to make field duties more efficient during crowded railway operations and intensive checking drives.
The jackets are designed to help staff carry handheld terminals, electronic fare collection devices and portable voice amplifiers while keeping their hands free. According to the division, the arrangement is intended to improve mobility and reduce the risk of equipment being dropped, misplaced or damaged during ticket checks.
The jackets use lightweight, breathable fabric to improve airflow and ventilation during long hours of duty. Dedicated pockets have been provided for handheld terminals and EFT devices, allowing staff to keep the equipment secure while accessing it quickly. Another pocket is meant for portable voice amplifiers used during checking and communication duties.
The design also includes an arrangement to route headset wires directly to face level. This is intended to keep the wires organised and reduce the possibility of obstruction while ticket-checking personnel move through crowded locations.
The Mumbai Central Division said the jackets would be particularly useful during Fortress Checks, AC local checking, special drives and peak-hour duties. During such operations, staff may need to move through dense crowds while carrying several pieces of equipment and communicating with passengers or colleagues.
Besides their operational function, the jackets give ticket-checking staff a uniform appearance, the division said. The 30 jackets have already been procured and deployed in Mumbai Central Division as part of the pilot. The report did not specify the duration of the pilot or whether the equipment would be extended to staff across the wider railway network.
The deployment comes as Western Railway has intensified ticket-checking activity across its network. Between April and September 2026, the railway detected 1549 lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel, including unbooked luggage, and collected Rs 11652 crore in fines, according to the report. The checks covered Mumbai suburban local trains, long-distance Mail-Express trains, passenger services and holiday special trains.
The division described the jackets as a compact solution for carrying checking and communication equipment during field operations. Further deployment beyond the 30-jacket pilot will depend on the division’s assessment of the initiative.
