Think 5 times before travelling ticketless

Central Railway to deploy 569 TCsu00a0-- 5 times the current numberu00a0-- for suburban stations, and two times for outbound trains

Getting away with travelling in trains without a valid ticket may not be as much of a cakewalk as it was earlier, as there will be ticket checkers standing right at the entrance of railway stations and even coaches. According to the Central Railway's new policy, nearly five times the current number of ticket collectors will man suburban stations, and almost double the existing number will be deployed on long-distance trains. At present, only 100 of the existing strength of 569 TCs for suburban railways actually check for tickets.


Ticket please: The ticket checkers will be deployed right in front of the
compartments, and near the entry and exit of railway stations.
Representation Pic

Moreover, they are concentrated at major stations and junctions, leaving passengers free to do as they please at smaller stations. But now, all of the 569 will be spread out uniformly across all stations. They will be deployed right in front of the compartments, and near the entry and exit of railway stations. "It is difficult for the 100 TCs to monitor 76 suburban CR stations. After increasing their number, we will be more efficient in catching those without tickets," said an official on condition of anonymity. By the year's end, the railways will recruit 126 more TCs, taking the number to seven times what it is now, he added.

First-class woes
Other than against those just hopping on board without a ticket, railway authorities have been getting complaints about second-class ticket holders boarding first-class compartments intentionally. "It has been brought to our notice that due to the non-visibility of TCs at most stations, passengers with second-class tickets intentionally board the first class," he said.

But the authorities seem to have caught up with both the deficient numbers of ticket checking personnel and the antics of those travelling without tickets. "Passengers know where and on which stations they are likely to face TC, so those without tickets sneak out of their sight. Only at stations like Dadar, CST and Kurla, TCs are visible in plain sight. Now, they will man all the stations."

Outbound too
Passengers on long-distance trains will also be under closer scrutiny. "Earlier, in long-distance 22-coach trains, we had four TCs, instead of 10. As such, some bogies, mostly sleeper and general, remained unchecked. So we decided to change the policy and increase the number of TCs for suburban as well as for long distance trains," the official said. The existing number of 334 TCs on duty in long-distance trains has also been increased to its full strength of 594. Atul Rane, senior deputy commercial manager, said, "To implement the Railway Board policy to man all reserved coaches of long distance trains, internal policy of deployment of TCs based on their seniority in cadre is prepared and staff is being utilised as per policy."

Ashok Kumar Singh, Public Relation Officer, CR, said, "In long-distance trains, there will be one ticket collector for every two coaches. We have increased the number of TCs at suburban stations also. They are more visible." He added, "The new policy will ensure that all passengers buy valid tickets, adding to the railway revenue."

Ticketless
The number of passengers caught travelling on the CR line without a valid ticket in the last two years:
2009: 13.99 lakh
2010: 16.57 lakh

Status quo
There are total 1,388 ticket collectors on CR. Of this, 17 senior-most TC's are supervisors, 208 work in special squads, 594 are deployed in long-distance trains and 569 in suburban railways. Some 126 vacancies are to be filled by December this year for suburban railway stations.

37.4 lakh The number of passengers that travel with CR every day
u00a0
33 lakh The number of passengers that travel with WR every day

1,388 Number of ticket collectors on Central Railway