S Rly cracks whip on ticketless travellers

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

It was time when ticketless travellers on the local trains in Chennai faced tough moments on June 11, 27 and 28.  Thanks to joint efforts of Southern Railway and its Railway Protection Force (RPF) unit whip went cracking on those traveling without a ticket in local trains between Chennai Beach to Tambaram,  Villivakkam to Thiruvallur and Chennai and Gummidipoondi routes.

The special ticket checking drive on June 11 between Chennai Beach to Tambaram resulted in realisation of Rs 2,52,915 as fine amount. A team of 134 ticket checking staff and 80 RPF personnel took part in the drive, say sources from Southern Railway. 

The drive penalised 762 persons travelling without tickets. Those fined included second class ticket holders travelling in first class as well as transgenders travelling without tickets.  The drive took place under the direction of P Mahesh, divisional railway manager, Chennai division. 

Drive on June 27 between Villivakkam to Thiruvallur route saw a participation of 30 ticket checking staff and 14 RPF personnel and coverage of 94 local trains. About 207 people were fined and Rs 61,460 was realised as penalty. The third ticket checking drive between Chennai and Gummidipoondi took place on 28 June where a penalty of Rs 1,02,530 was realised. 

Source from Railways say 53 ticket checking staff and 33 RPF personnel took part in the drive where 372 persons were found travelling without tickets and 80 suburban trains were covered in this drive.

The drives on 27 and 28 June took place under the direction of K Manoj, additional divisional railway manager, Chennai division, Southern Railway.