How do hawkers get into Mumbai local trains when the general public can’t?

Some of the hawkers nabbed in Borivli

How are hawkers getting aboard locals despite restricted access? Pictures and videos of hawkers in suburban trains amid restricted public access and the related criticism has prompted WR and CR to conduct a series of raids.

While the Mumbai division of Western Railway has nabbed nearly 479 hawkers in six days, and Central Railway has this year sent four to jail. CR officials said they had registered 1,984 such cases between January and June this year, with 413 in July alone.

WR officials said they will intensify and sustain the drive till August 15 to curb the menace of unauthorised hawkers and vendors inside trains and on railway premises.

Also read: Why can't vaccinated people be allowed to travel by local train, Bombay HC asks Maha govt

How do they get in?

Hawkers generally avoid getting caught by keeping their goods in backpacks or other foldable bags. Most importantly, they hop from one train to another at stops, evading police or railway officials at stations. They are able to do so, as Mumbai suburban railway is mostly unfenced and open line, which gives hawkers easy access to stations from a number of places, other than the official entry and exit points.

A hawker inside a ladies' compartment

Lakhs collected in fine

"The drive was launched in July-end, and 52 cases were registered on Day 1, while another 78 on Day 2. Overall, in the past six days, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) caught 479 hawkers, 423 from inside local and mail/express trains and 56 from railway premises," WR's chief public relations officer (PRO) Sumit Thakur said.

CR's chief PRO Shivaji Sutar said, "Between January and July this year, a total of 3,092 cases were registered in Mumbai division and a fine of Rs 30,78,100 collected from the hawkers, while four were jailed. A drive has been launched against unauthorised hawking and vending on identified sections."

It is not just illegal to sell goods on railway premises without a valid licence, but some of the unauthorised hawkers sell unhygienic goods and flout COVID-19 norms. All of them have been prosecuted under Section 144 (prohibition on hawking) of the Indian Railways Act, punishable with imprisonment of up to one year or fine of up to Rs 2,000 or both.

Commuters miffed

Commuter and activist Lata Argade said, "When travel is restricted for the general public, one can see hawkers and beggars on trains. How is it that they get access? They are always inside ladies' compartments and are able to sell their goods and even get away."

Avinash Dhuri, another commuter, complained that the Kanjurmarg platform has become a hub for hawkers, including children, even during the lockdown. "Just ask senior officials to visit the station at night. They will have a reality check," he added.

479
No. of hawkers nabbed by WR in past 6 days