As many as 2.57 lakh rail passengers, over 1,700 daily, have been caught travelling without ticket in trains in five months this year and Rs 11.36 crore collected from them as fine in Firozpur Division of Northern Railways.
"2.57 lakh passengers have been fined during April 15 till September 15 this year for travelling without ticket and violating other rules," said an official of Firozpur Division of Railways today.
While the percentage of "erring" rail passengers during the five months was up by 11 per cent for the corresponding period last year, the railways earnings from fine collection in the same duration also increased by 13 per cent, the official said.
The collection during ticket checking also included fine imposed on passengers for carrying luggage in excess of permissible weight, they said.
In the festival season, the official said railways will intensify its checking campaign to catch passengers travelling without ticket. In this regard, special railway magistrate of Jalandhar, Jammu Tawi and Srinagar have been asked to carry out ticket checking in their respective zones.
The official further said people have been appealed not to throw litter at railway stations otherwise fine of Rs 500 will be imposed.
Came into being in the year 1862, the Firozpur division of northern railways caters to the rail transport needs of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and a part of Himachal Pradesh.
Firozpur division serves a large number of industrial and important towns like Amritsar, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Firozpur and Kapurthala in Punjab, Kangra, Palampur, Baijnath Paprola and Joginder Nagar in Himachal Pradesh.
