Mumbai: Western Railway to deploy Batman Squad for ticket-checking at night

Western Railway on Thursday said they had now started posting all-night ticket-checking squads at stations to increase vigil and curb nuisance of ticketless or unauthorised travelling during the night hours.

Terming it the Batman Squad, the team members have already begun their drive and have apprehended more than 2,300 ticketless travellers and detected other cases during the first two nights of the start of the initiative. During the nights of March 11 and 12, the squad collected a fine of almost Rs 6.30 lakh. Operating in the night at odd hours, the members of the Batman Squad patrol WR stations with a mission.

Western Railway's CPRO Sumit Thakur said, "Batman is an acronym for Be Aware TTE Manning At Night. The ‘Batman' squad is trained to operate during night hours. The role of these ticket-checking staff is to inspect trains and be vigilant for any signs of trouble or suspicious activity. This initiative will deter commuters from travelling without a ticket or travelling in higher class, especially, during night time."

"These staffers with their presence, deter unauthorised travel in trains, contributing to the overall efficiency of the system. Through their interactions with passengers, they also educate on responsible travel practices. This drive has been well appreciated by regular commuters," he added.