More passengers are reported to be travelling without valid tickets on South Western Railway (SWR) trains, with over 770,000 cases detected between January and November 2025 — a 10% increase from the same
period last year.
The suddenrise has been attributed to intensified checks and higher passenger volumes.
In November alone, 67,000 violations were recorded, resulting in Rs 5.3 crore in penalties, the highest in the Bengaluru division. This marked a 24% increase from November 2024, when 54,000 cases were documented and over Rs 3.3 crore was collected, The Times of India reported.
The Bengaluru division saw the highest number of violations in November, with 26,248 cases, highlighting the significant issue in the region’s busiest travel corridor.
This increase in cases does not necessarily indicate more people are intentionally evading fares, according to railway officials. Instead, it reflects enhanced enforcement measures.
“Passenger movement overall has increased, and the number of services has gone up. Many people travel despite the unavailability of confirmed tickets. We have intensified checks using existing staff — we haven’t increased ticket-checking personnel,” said Manjunath Kanamadi, chief public relations officer, SWR.
However, officials acknowledge that the reported figures might only represent a portion of the problem. Most detections occur in reserved coaches, as overcrowding makes inspections in unreserved compartments nearly impossible.
Ticketless travel typically peaks during festive seasons, officials noted, urging passengers to travel only with valid tickets.
