Western Railway Ahmedabad division collects ₹25.72 crore in fines over ticketless travel and rule violations

The Western Railway’s Ahmedabad Division has collected ₹25.72 crore in fines over the past ten months by taking action against passengers travelling without tickets, as well as those found littering and spitting at railway stations and on trains, officials said.

According to the Railway Department, the amount collected represents a 54% increase compared to last year, indicating a sharp rise in violations despite intensified enforcement measures. Officials said the number of offenders has continued to grow, with an average of 43 people being penalised every hour in January alone.

The division carried out a special ticket inspection drive between April 2025 and January 2026, during which action was taken against thousands of passengers violating railway rules. Data released by the department show that the Ahmedabad Division collected an average of ₹8.57 lakh per day in fines during this period.

In January alone, fines totalling ₹2.48 crore were imposed on 32,330 offenders, underscoring what officials described as a worrying trend. “Despite regular ticket checks, penalties and strict regulations, violations are increasing rather than declining,” a railway official said.

The enforcement drive remains ongoing. On Wednesday, intensive inspections were conducted on several services, including the Amrapur Aravalli Express, Sabarmati–Patan MEMU, Sabarmati–Mehsana MEMU and the Agra Cantt–Sabarmati Express. During the checks, railway staff took action against 144 passengers for violations.