Chennai Railway Sees Sharp Decline in Ticketless Travel, Fines Drop in 2023-24!
The Chennai division of Southern Railway saw a significant drop in ticketless passengers in the 2023-24 fiscal year, with cases falling by 2,84,258 to 5,11,863. In 2021-22, 6,53,449 passengers were caught traveling without tickets, resulting in fines of Rs 32.03 crore. In 2022-23, the number rose to 7,96,121 passengers, with fines totaling Rs 37.87 crore. However, in 2023-24, the fine amount dropped to Rs 29.04 crore. Till August 15, 2024, 2,51,574 passengers were fined Rs 10.53 crore for ticketless travel.
Divisional Railway Manager B Vishwanath Eerya credited the decline to the installation of additional automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs), the UTS app, and intensified ticket-checking drives. Ticketless passengers are fined based on travel distance, with a minimum fine of Rs 500. Under Section 137 of the Railways Act, those refusing to pay may face up to six months of imprisonment or a fine up to Rs 1,000.
