Bhagalpur: A team of railway officials, including principal chief commercial manager (PCCM) Shankar Jha along with senior divisional commercial manager (SDCM) Sudeb Bhattacharya and other officials, assisted by railway protection forces (RPFs) teams conducted an intensive ticket checking drive on Friday, in several trains and at railway platforms in Bhagalpur and Abhaipur railway sections of Malda Division under Eastern Railway (ER).
Altogether 485 passengers were found travelling without valid tickets and an amount of Rs 214640 was collected as fine in the drive, said the SDCM, adding the purpose of these surprise checks was to curb ticketless travel and encourage passengers to purchase valid tickets before boarding.
The drive was launched following train passengers' complaints regarding inconveniences caused by unauthorized and ticketless passengers in the reserved and other coaches. The ticket checking drive will continue for at least a week in the entire railway sections under Malda railway division that was launched on Thursday, said the railway officials at Bhagalpur, adding the objective is to ensure hassle-free travelling for the genuine passengers besides curbing the loss of revenue to the railways due to the ticketless passengers.
Ticket checking drive were carried out in 13401 Bhagalpur – Danapur Intercity Express, 22948 Surat – Bhagalpur Express, 13334 Patna – Bhagalpur - Dumka Express, 12367 Bhagalpur – Anand Vihar Terminal Vikramshila Express besides several other trains in between Bhagalpur and Abhaipur stations on Friday.