Officials said the previous highest collection for a similar half-day drive was Rs 3.90 lakh, recorded on April 2, 2025 at Bhayandar. The latest drive has now set a new benchmark of highest ever collection during 'fortress check'
The drives are usually conducted periodically to improve compliance and deter unauthorised travel. Representational Pic/File
Western Railway said that its officials made a record collection of fines, their highest-ever earnings, during a half-day 'fortress check' drive at Bhayandar, collecting Rs 4.06 lakh in penalties from ticketless and irregular travellers on Saturday.
Officials said the previous highest collection for a similar half-day drive was Rs 3.90 lakh, recorded on April 2, 2025 at Bhayandar.
The latest drive has now set a new benchmark.
What is a fortress check?
A fortress check is a large-scale ticket inspection drive in which multiple teams are deployed across stations and trains simultaneously to catch fare evaders and enforce ticketing rules.
Such drives are conducted periodically to improve compliance and deter unauthorised travel.
WR collects over Rs 191 crore in fines from ticketless travellers
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Western Railway had stated that it recovered more than Rs 191 crore in fines after detecting nearly 30 lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel during intensive ticket checking drives carried out between April 2025 and February 2026.
This is a surge of over 42 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, Western Railway had said in an official statement issued by Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek on March 5.
The statement had stated that the ticket-checking staff, under the supervision of senior commercial officers, carried out extensive checks in Mumbai suburban local trains, long-distance Mail and Express trains, passenger services and holiday special trains.
The drives were aimed at curbing ticketless travel, minimising revenue leakage and promoting travel discipline among passengers, it said.
Nearly three lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel
During February 2026 alone, nearly three lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel were detected, leading to the recovery of around Rs 18.50 crore in fines. This marks an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to the same month last year.
In the Mumbai suburban section, intensive checking drives also yielded significant results. In February 2026, about 87,000 cases of ticketless and irregular travel were detected, resulting in the recovery of Rs 4.28 crore.
Cumulatively, from April 2025 to February 2026, more than 10 lakh cases were detected in the Mumbai suburban network, with total fines amounting to nearly Rs 50 crore, including penalties collected in air-conditioned (AC) local trains.
WR also conducted focused checking drives in AC suburban local services to prevent unauthorised travel by passengers holding general tickets.
Penalties in Mumbai AC locals
Between April 2025 and February 2026, more than 1.16 lakh penalty cases were booked in Mumbai AC local trains, resulting in the recovery of Rs 3.76 crore in fines — an increase of nearly 99 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Officials had said the drives will continue as part of Western Railway’s efforts to curb ticketless travel and ensure disciplined and authorised travel across its network.
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