NMMT cracks down on ticketless travellers
- Christopher Rodrigues
- 13 Dec, 2024
Over 1,225 passengers penalised in the last three months
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has intensified its crackdown on ticketless travellers, catching 1,225 passengers who tried to evade paying a fare between September, October, and November 2024. These offenders were fined a total of Rs. 2,34,494. This information was provided by Yogesh Kaduskar, General Manager of NMMT.
This recent surge in fines adds to a growing list of enforcement actions taken by NMMT over the years. Between January and August 2024, ticket checkers identified 2,142 ticketless passengers, resulting in fines totalling Rs. 3,91,383, a move aimed at curbing revenue losses within the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).
The fines for travelling without a ticket currently stand at Rs. 175 for ordinary buses and Rs. 310 for air-conditioned buses, informed an NMMT official, with all routes in Navi Mumbai now served by air-conditioned buses to enhance passenger comfort.
Despite these measures, ticketless travel continues to pose significant financial challenges for NMMT, which operates around 380 buses on 74 routes. These buses generate a daily income of Rs. 38–Rs.40 lakh. However, overcrowding during peak hours, particularly on routes extending to Thane, Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivli, and Panvel, often sees passengers exploiting the chaos to evade payment by disembarking without purchasing tickets.
To tackle this issue, NMMT has deployed over 40 ticket inspectors daily across various routes. Their efforts have yielded results over the years, as shown by the following statistics:
· 2021: 32.21 lakh passengers were checked, and 4,237 fare evaders were fined Rs. 5,72,663.
· 2022: 10,738 free passengers were caught, leading to fines amounting to Rs. 5,98,175.
· 2023: 3,578 offenders were fined Rs. 6,31,114.
While the figures demonstrate NMMT’s commitment to enforcement, they also highlight a concerning trend related to the persistent issue of fare evasion, which not only impacts the organisation's revenue but also undermines the fairness of the system for law-abiding passengers.
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NMMT cracks down on ticketless travellers
- Vijay Bhor
- 23 Apr, 2024
Over 3,000 commuters penalized
In a bid to tackle ticketless travellers and ensure fair revenue collection, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) administration has taken robust action against over 3,000 commuters between April 2023 and March 2024. The crackdown has resulted in the recovery of a substantial fine of Rs. 6,07,404.
NMMT, which operates bus services across Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, has been facing challenges posed by individuals taking advantage of the system. Despite efforts to enhance services and cater to the commuting needs of over 2 lakh passengers daily, some individuals have been exploiting the services provided.
The municipal transport authority runs approximately 380 buses on 74 routes, generating a daily income ranging from Rs. 38 lakhs to Rs. 40 lakh. However, the presence of ticketless travellers has been a concern, prompting NMMT to deploy over 40 ticket inspectors daily across various routes to curb this social nuisance.
According to recent ticket checks conducted between April 2023 and March 2024, a staggering 36,11,940 passengers were inspected, leading to the identification of 3,402 free riders. Action has been taken against these individuals as part of the ongoing efforts to maintain integrity in fare collection.
Passengers caught travelling without tickets are subject to fines of Rs. 175 for ordinary buses and Rs. 310 for air-conditioned buses. Yogesh Kaduskar, Manager of NMMT, emphasized that this campaign will be further intensified to ensure effective implementation and deter fare evasion.