Jammu, January 7:
To maintain the sanctity of premium travel and curb revenue leakage, the Northern Railway’s Jammu Division launched a high-profile “Surprise Ticket Checking Drive” on the Mata Vaishno Devi Katra – New Delhi Vande Bharat Express.
The drive was led by Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr. DCM), along with a high-level team of Assistant Commercial Managers, Commercial Inspectors, and specialized ticket-checking staff. The team boarded the train and conducted an intensive inspection on the Jammu–Ludhiana section.
The surprise check targeted unauthorized travelers who often board premium trains without valid authority, infringing upon the rights of passengers who pay for confirmed seats.
31 passengers were apprehended for traveling without valid tickets or proper travel authority. A total of approximately ₹80,000 was recovered on the spot. All violators were penalized under various sections of the Railways Act, 1989.
Speaking on the drive, Sr. DCM Uchit Singhal emphasized that the Railways are taking a zero-tolerance approach toward ticketless travel, especially in semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat.
“We encourage passengers to always travel with valid tickets. The penalty for ticketless travel on premium trains is significantly higher compared to regular trains. Such acts not only cause revenue loss but also cause inconvenience to genuine passengers,” Singhal stated.
This drive is part of a larger initiative by the Northern Railway to increase frequency of surprise checks across the division. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Indian Railways has intensified its use of Hand-Held Terminals (HHTs) to bring transparency to the fining process and ensure vacant berths are allocated fairly.
Passengers are advised to verify their PNR status and carry valid ID proofs, as traveling with an e-ticket without a matching ID is also treated as ticketless travel under the current regulations.
