Ludhiana: Northern railway’s Ferozepur division has launched a major crackdown on ticketless travel, intercepting nearly 600 passengers in a single day during a high-intensity “Fortress Check” operation at the local railway station.The unannounced inspection on Tuesday resulted in 587 passengers being caught without valid transit authority, netting the railway more than ₹2.7 lakh in immediate fines and recovered revenue. The operation is part of a broader strategy to tighten security and recoup losses caused by widespread fare evasion across the regional network.The “Fortress Check” is a specialized railway protocol involving the sudden saturation of a station or specific rail section by enforcement teams. Unlike routine checks, these operations involve sealing exit points to ensure strict compliance with ticketing, identification, and travel regulations. A combined force of 20 specialist ticket-checking staff and personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) participated in the Ludhiana sweep.Paramdeep Singh Saini, senior divisional commercial manager, has stated that the drive serves as both a deterrent and a means of securing the railway’s financial interests. He emphasised that the revenue collected from fines was essential for maintaining passenger convenience and station infrastructure. “We appeal to all passengers to travel only with valid tickets,” Saini said, adding that such intensive drives will continue on a regular, unannounced basis to ensure the integrity of the travel experience.MSID:: 129774972 413 |
