Mumbai ticketless train travellers on why they would pay the fine than travel by road

Central Railway has caught 17.22 lakh ticketless travellers in the last seven months. Pic/Atul Kamble

In the first two weeks of October, Aashna Panchal, 17, dared to do something that she had never done: travel ticketless from Mulund to her college in Vidyavihar. "Taking a cab or a rickshaw to commute long distance is impractical and expensive. Train is the only feasible option," says the KJ Somaiya College student, who hasn't been vaccinated because she is under 18. Panchal considers herself lucky to have escaped the watchful eyes of a ticket checker. She says her parents suggested that if caught, she could tell the TC that she was called in to college for important work, hoping that they'd show leniency towards students, considering her college is only on specific days. "It's not like I am going to college every day," shrugs Panchal.

Lucky for Panchal, her delinquent days are over, thanks to a state order issued by Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte on October 15, which made students under the age of 18 eligible for a monthly season ticket. They can now show their Aadhaar card and school ID for a ticket. Panchal says she is relieved to finally travel in a train without the stress of being caught. Travelling ticketless is also an offence under the Railways Act. As per railway rules, any person found travelling without a ticket will be charged a penalty of Rs 250, plus the price of the ticket.

Aashna Panchal, 17, travelled ticketless for two weeks in October until the state government made students under the age of 18 eligible for a monthly season ticket

In its official order issued last month, the state government said, "Being fully vaccinated would be the only mandatory condition for issuance of any kind of tickets for travel in the trains. It is emphasised that railways must ensure that only fully vaccinated persons are travelling in trains and this is irrespective of whether a traveller is engaged or not engaged in essential services."

A ticket checker at Ghatkopar station, who requested anonymity, said that passengers often come up with a gamut of excuses on being caught. "They say that they needed to rush to the hospital because their friend or relative is sick. Some, however, are okay paying the minimum fine of R250 without whining," he said. The commuters say that bus services are limited and cannot accommodate everyone and that hiring a cab is not affordable. "I had to travel daily from Ghatkopar to Masjid Bunder for work, but I wasn't fully vaccinated. Hence, my boss told me to travel ticketless and said that paying the fine of R250 would be more economical than spending more than double on the taxi," said an 18-year-old who works for a businessman.

According to data, the Central Railway has caught 17.22 lakh ticketless travellers in the last seven months and collected a fine of Rs 108.82 crore. "More often than not, passengers from Virar, Badlapur, Kalyan are the ones who travel ticketless more because if caught, they can pay the fine and then travel all day, anywhere they want," added the TC.

This writer, who stood alongside with the TC at Ghatkopar station, noticed that in a span of 20 minutes, everyone he stopped had a ticket or a pass. "Now, the incidence of ticketless travel has reduced because more TCs have been stationed and checks are carried out extensively."