NE BUSINESS BUREAU
SALEM, APR 4
In a strong enforcement push against travel irregularities, the Salem Division of Southern Railway has achieved a record-breaking ₹24.71 crore in ticket checking earnings during FY 2025–26, the highest-ever in its history.
- ₹24.71 crore annual earnings mark highest-ever in Salem Division history
- March 2026 alone records ₹2.63 crore — best monthly performance ever
- Over 3.23 lakh cases booked across 64,832 intensive checks
- Ticketless travel cases surge, penalties jump 14.2% year-on-year
- Division beats annual target by 9.38%, continues 4-year streak
- Railways reiterates: travel only with valid ticket, avoid penalties
The Division also set a new monthly benchmark, collecting ₹2.63 crore in March 2026, underlining the intensified vigilance and sustained enforcement efforts.
Record Numbers Backed by Intensive Drives
During April 2025 – March 2026:
- 64,832 checks conducted
- 3,23,914 total cases booked
- ₹24,70,84,062 collected as penalties
The earnings are:
- 9.38% higher than the annual target (₹22.59 crore)
- 11.66% higher than last year (₹22.13 crore)
Notably, the Division has surpassed its target for four consecutive years.
Ticketless & Irregular Travel: Major Contributors
The crackdown revealed large-scale violations:
🔹 Ticketless Travel
- 1,72,746 cases detected
- ₹15.45 crore collected
- +5.2% rise in cases, +14.2% increase in penalty
🔹 Irregular Travel
- 1,50,161 cases detected
- ₹9.20 crore collected
- +7.5% increase in penalty
🔹 Unbooked Luggage
- 1,007 cases detected
- ₹4.98 lakh collected
These figures highlight the extent of non-compliance and the division’s tightened enforcement mechanisms.
March 2026: A Record-Breaking Month
The Division’s best-ever monthly performance came in March 2026:
- 15,791 ticketless travel cases → ₹1.61 crore
- 13,968 irregular travel cases → ₹1.00 crore
- 304 luggage violations → ₹0.97 lakh
👉 Total: ₹2.62 crore collected in a single month
Driven by Leadership & Field Vigilance
The achievement has been attributed to the concerted efforts of ticket checking squads and officers, guided by M. Vasudevan.
Regular onboard and station checks ensured detection of:
- Ticketless travel
- Misuse of reserved tickets
- Excess/unbooked luggage
Passenger Advisory: Travel Smart, Travel Right
Railways has reiterated that ticketless travel is a punishable offence and urged passengers to:
- Board trains only from designated boarding points
- Ensure tickets are used only by the booked passenger
- Avoid misuse of concessions like senior citizen quota
Luggage Limits (Free Allowance)
- AC First Class: 70 kg
- AC 2-Tier / First Class: 50 kg
- AC 3-Tier / Chair Car: 40 kg
- Sleeper Class: 40 kg
- Second Class: 35 kg
The Bottom Line
With record revenues, stricter enforcement, and rising compliance focus, Salem Division’s performance signals a zero-tolerance approach towards violations, reinforcing discipline across the railway network.