Mumbai: If you travelled on Western Railway during the Diwali rush this year, chances are ticket-checkers were never too far away. A special fortnight-long enforcement campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Deep’, helped Western Railway’s Mumbai Central Division recover a record Rs 8.2 crore from ticketless and irregular travellers, setting a new benchmark for festive-season ticket checking, a senior official announced to the media on Sunday.The drive, conducted between Oct 31 and Nov 14, saw ticket-checking squads crack down on passengers travelling without valid tickets, passes or proper travel authority across suburban as well as long-distance services. During the 15-day campaign, officials detected 94,919 cases of ticketless or irregular travel and recovered Rs 8.23 crore in fares and penalties.The achievement is significant not only because it exceeded the division’s target of Rs 7.65 crore by more than 7.5%, but also because it marked a sharp rise over last year’s Diwali-period recovery of Rs 5.36 crore. Railway officials said the collection registered a growth of over 53% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.Diwali is one of the busiest travel seasons for Mumbai’s rail network, with suburban trains packed and long-distance services running at full capacity. During this period, railway authorities often encounter passengers boarding trains without tickets, travelling beyond their authorised destinations, or occupying reserved coaches with unreserved tickets.“To tackle the problem, Western Railway deployed dedicated ticket-checking teams across major stations, railway entry and exit points, and heavily patronised suburban and mail-express routes. Surprise inspections, intensive onboard checks and coordinated enforcement drives were carried out throughout the festive period,” said a WR official.The official further said the objective was not merely revenue recovery but also ensuring that genuine ticket-holding passengers are able to travel comfortably without inconvenience caused by unauthorised travellers.The record recovery under ‘Operation Deep’ highlights Western Railway’s intensified efforts to curb ticketless travel and protect railway revenue during peak travel periods. Officials said similar drives will continue in the future to promote disciplined travel habits and improve the overall passenger experience across the suburban network.
