06 May,2026 02:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
An investigation is currently underway to identify individuals or entities linked to the misuse. Representational pic
The Central Railway has intensified its crackdown on the misuse of the Foreign Tourist (FT) Quota, detecting 39 irregular booking cases and recovering Rs 3.56 lakh in penalties from offenders.
As per an official statement from Central Railway, the action follows an incident reported on February 4, 2026, aboard Train No 12296 Sanghamitra Express, where several Indian passengers were found travelling on FT quota tickets without possessing the mandatory documents required for foreign nationals.
Subsequently, railway authorities carried out a detailed analysis of future-dated bookings under the FT quota. The scrutiny revealed that 174 originating Passenger Name Records (PNRs) were generated across 31 trains under Central Railway for the period between April 24 and June 11, 2026.
Following scrutiny, special verification drives conducted by ticket-checking staff found that 39 of these PNRs involved misuse of the quota. In total, 121 passengers were detected travelling irregularly. These passengers were penalised as per railway rules, with authorities recovering Rs 3,56,916. They were also denied access to their reserved berths, which were reassigned to RAC and waitlisted passengers.
Railway officials have sought additional details from IRCTC to determine whether any authorised booking agents were involved in facilitating such fraudulent reservations. An investigation is currently underway to identify individuals or entities linked to the misuse.
Central Railway has reiterated that booking tickets under an ineligible quota is a punishable offence under the Railways Act. Passengers have been advised to carry valid identification and supporting documents corresponding to the quota under which tickets are booked.
The railway authority has also urged passengers to report any suspicious bookings or misuse to on-duty railway personnel, call the helpline number 139, or lodge complaints via the Rail Madad app.
The Central Railway on Saturday said that its Mumbai division has achieved a record in fine collections during ticket checking drives conducted in April 2026, an official statement said.
The total amount of Rs 16.13 crore in April marks the highest-ever monthly collection, surpassing the previous record of Rs 14.50 crore set in May 2023, the statement further said.
During April 2026, ticket checking teams detected and penalised around 2.27 lakh cases of irregular travel across Mail and Express and suburban trains, including Mumbai AC local trains. This is a 56 per cent increase compared to the 1.45 lakh cases recorded in April 2025.
The total penalty recovered also saw a major jump, rising by 166 per cent from Rs 6.07 crore in April 2025 to Rs 16.13 crore this year.
