Voice9, Kolkata Bureau: Passenger complaints against certain dishonest ticket checkers on the Tarakeshwar-Seoraphuli branch line of the Howrah division. These checkers have been found to collect money from ticketless passengers through various means instead of imposing fines. Their targets include ticketless passengers and individuals arriving from villages who visit Seoraphuli to bathe in the Ganges.
In light of these incidents, passengers have
demanded immediate identification of the accused checkers and appropriate
action to be taken. According to the passengers, despite the increasing number
of ticketless passengers in the Tarakeswar-Howrah section, unscrupulous ticket
checkers are illicitly pocketing additional funds by falsely claiming extra
freight fare instead of imposing fines.
Consequently, the railway is being deprived of
its rightful revenue. It has been observed that these dishonest checkers first
identify potential ticketless passengers and then apprehend them, demanding
payment of a fine. If the passenger attempts to negotiate a reduction in the
fine, these checkers deceive them by engaging in bargaining, ultimately
extorting amounts ranging from Rs. 160 to Rs. 240.
They then issue a receipt for Rs. 50, falsely
claiming it to be payment for additional goods, and retain the remaining amount
for themselves. As such incidents escalate during the Puja Festival, the
railways continue to suffer financial losses.
Passengers have expressed their desire for the
vigilance department of the Eastern Railway to address this matter urgently.
According to them, this dishonest group of checkers is prioritizing their own
profits over imposing fines on ticketless passengers, thereby detrimentally
impacting the revenue of the railways.
