Successful Crackdown On Railway Ticket Touting At Howrah Division
Kolkata: In a concerted effort to combat the scourge of illegal ticketing activities plaguing the railway reservation system, the Howrah Division of the Eastern Railway, in collaboration with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), launched a targeted operation named “Operation Upalabdh” on February 16. This operation aimed to root out touting activities and maintain the integrity of the ticketing process, ensuring fair access to railway services for all passengers.
The entire operation against touting was conducted by organising surprise raid at several places with comprehensive seizure of total 98 tickets including both live & past journey tickets.
The combined value of the seized tickets amounted to ₹2,49,934./-. The operation led to the apprehension of 10 individuals suspected of involvement in illegal ticketing operations. In the course of the operation, 41 personal user IDs associated with the unauthorized procurement of railway tickets were identified.
A brief about raids conducted at different locations are as follows:
i) RPF/Post/Saktigarh apprehended one person with the seizure of 51 e-tickets valued at ₹125,122.22.
ii) RPF/Post/Barddhaman arrested one person with the seizure of 5 live e-tickets valued at ₹6,611.
iii) RPF/Post/Balgona arrested the owner of an Electronics Shop with the recovery of 8 railway e-tickets valued at ₹10,655.80.
iv) RPF/Post/Nabadwip Dham apprehended owner of a travel agency with the recovery of 5 railway e-tickets valued at ₹13,015.
v) RPF/Post/Tarkeshwar arrested one person with the recovery of 5 railway e-tickets valued at ₹12,021.15.
vi) RPF/Post/Bally arrested one shop owner with the recovery of 10 railway e-tickets valued at ₹16,160.20.
vii) RPF/Post/Bandel arrested one person with the recovery of 10 railway e-tickets valued at ₹3,014.
viii) RPF/Post/Sheoraphully arrested one tout from the Reservation Counter area (PRS) of Serampore Railway Station with the recovery of 3 live railway journey tickets valued at ₹1,315.
ix) RPF/Post/Bolpur arrested one shop owner with the recovery of 8 railway e-tickets valued at ₹8,502.40.
x) RPF/Post/Azimganj arrested one person with the seizure of 3 past e-tickets valued at ₹4,067.15.
The raids, conducted at various locations within Howrah Division, targeted establishments suspected of facilitating illegal ticketing activities. Seized items included electronic devices such as laptops, monitors, CPUs, and mobile phones, along with cash. These seizures serve as a stark reminder of the consequences awaiting those who seek to subvert the integrity of the railway reservation system.
Eastern Railway reaffirms its unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and fairness in railway ticketing processes. Through proactive measures such as “Operation Upalabdh,” the Division remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure equitable access to railway services for all passengers.
Kausik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer, Eastern Railway stated “The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to ticketing to the authorities. Together, we can safeguard the integrity of the railway reservation system and uphold the trust of millions of passengers who rely on Eastern Railway.”
