Mumbai, June 8, 2025 — Ticketless commuters are increasingly crowding Mumbai’s air-conditioned (AC) local trains, especially during peak hours, causing serious disruptions. Overcrowding at the doors—particularly by those without valid tickets—is preventing automatic doors from closing, thereby delaying departures and affecting the punctuality of services across the Western Railway (WR) network.
In response, WR has deployed a dedicated 15-member squad of ticket checkers (TCs) exclusively for AC local trains. This team has been actively patrolling AC coaches since May 30, issuing fines and clearing out footboard squatters to restore smooth operations.
“We observe daily that commuters block the doors, especially between Borivali and Virar, preventing the train from moving. This causes a domino effect across the entire line,” a senior WR official said.
Over just one week—from May 30 to June 5—the squad fined 709 ticketless travellers, collecting over ₹2.30 lakh in penalties. The railway now plans to expand the squad to cover more trains and hours.
The Delay Chain
AC locals have automatic doors that must close fully before the train can depart. When overcrowded by unauthorised passengers—many hanging near or on the footboard—doors remain ajar, triggering system delays. These delays typically add 10 minutes or more during peak traffic hours, affecting up to 10% of the 40-50 delayed trains daily on WR lines.
Currently, WR operates 1,406 services daily, with 109 being AC local services on weekdays and 65 on weekends.
Public Reaction & Long-Term Solutions
Railway passenger associations have lauded the effort. Kailash Verma, president of the Maharashtra Railway Commuters Council, said, “Those without tickets have become a menace. People with valid AC tickets or passes don’t get seats because of them.”
However, Nandkumar Deshmukh, president of the Federation of Suburban Railway Passengers Association, added a different perspective: “People often board AC locals without tickets out of desperation. If the railway increased the number of AC trains and reduced fares, it would ease the pressure.”
The incident at Borivali station on October 3, 2022, remains a stark reminder. That day, packed AC trains stalled until police intervened and cleared the doors—highlighting the importance of enforcement for smooth operations.
As Mumbai’s commuter load grows, discipline and better management of AC services will be crucial to ensuring that punctuality, comfort, and safety go hand in hand.
