03 November,2026 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The campaign`s name, DEEP, stands for Detect, Examine, Enforce and Penalise, representing its four key operational measures. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Western Railway's Mumbai Central Division has launched a 15-day special ticket checking drive, âOperation DEEP', to curb ticketless and irregular travel during the Diwali festive rush.
The campaign, which began on October 31 and will continue until November 14, aims to manage the anticipated surge in passenger traffic and ensure a smooth and comfortable journey for passengers travelling with valid tickets.
According to a press release issued by Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek on Tuesday, dedicated ticket-checking squads have been deployed at railway stations and on board trains across the Mumbai Central Division to maintain travel discipline and manage the festive rush.
The campaign's name, DEEP, stands for Detect, Examine, Enforce and Penalise, representing its four key operational measures. These include detecting ticketless and irregular travellers, examining tickets and valid identity documents, enforcing railway rules to curb overcrowding, and penalising offenders under the provisions of the Railways Act.
Western Railway has appealed to commuters and passengers to purchase and travel with valid tickets to avoid penalties and ensure a hassle-free journey. Passengers have also been encouraged to make use of digital ticketing facilities.
Western Railway detected 15.49 lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel, including unbooked luggage, during ticket-checking drives between April and September 2026, collecting fines worth Rs 116.52 crore, according to an official statement.
The railway zone said intensive checking drives were conducted across Mumbai suburban local trains, long-distance Mail/Express trains, passenger trains and holiday special trains to curb unauthorised travel, prevent revenue leakage and promote travel discipline.
In September alone, Western Railway detected more than two lakh ticketless and irregular passengers and collected Rs 16.09 crore in fines.
In the Mumbai suburban section, ticket checking drives detected 5.43 lakh cases of ticketless or irregular travel between April and September. The drives resulted in the collection of more than Rs 30 crore in fines.
Western Railway said the sustained checking was aimed at ensuring that passengers travel with valid tickets and follow railway rules across its suburban network.
Western Railway also intensified ticket checking on AC suburban local trains to prevent passengers holding general tickets from travelling in AC services.
Between April and September, around 97,000 penalty cases were detected on AC suburban services, resulting in the collection of Rs 4.33 crore.
This represented a growth of more than 170 per cent over the corresponding period last year, when around 49,000 cases were detected and Rs 1.60 crore was collected in fines.
