In a significant move to curb ticketless travel and enhance transparency, Western Railway (WR) has equipped selected ticket checkers (TCs) with body-worn cameras, resulting in a drastic increase in the detection of offenders. The initiative, which began as a pilot project on January 1, 2025, has shown remarkable success, prompting WR to expand the use of body cameras among more ticket-checking personnel.

According to officials, the introduction of body cameras has led to a surge in ticketless travel detection rates, with figures rising from 20% to 80% across various stations. The cameras, capable of capturing high-definition video, clear audio, and still photographs, have proven to be a game-changer in ticket-checking operations.

"On December 20, 2024, before the body cameras were introduced, a special checking drive at Andheri station resulted in the detection of 523 ticketless passengers, with fines amounting to ₹1,52,940. However, after the implementation of body cameras, a similar check at the same station uncovered 916 cases—an increase of 69%—and collected ₹2,53,330 in fines" said an official

The trend continued across other stations as well. During a special check at Andheri on January 15, 2025, the number of ticketless travelers detected was over 80% higher compared to a similar check conducted in December 2024. Churchgate station saw a 56% increase in detected cases, while Virar station recorded a 45% rise.

Similarly at Mira Road and Vasai stations increase of over 20% in the detection rate of ticketless travel cases has been reported following the introduction of body cameras.

WR officials attribute this sharp increase to the presence of body cameras, which discourage offenders from arguing or attempting to evade fines. “On camera, most offenders do not want to engage in arguments. As a result, a ticket checker equipped with a body camera can focus on checking more passengers and collecting fines efficiently, compared to a TC without a camera,” said an official.

The decision to introduce body cameras was driven by frequent altercations between TCs and passengers over ticket-related disputes. Passengers have accused TCs of not checking properly, while TCs have complained about passenger misbehavior when caught traveling without a ticket. “These cameras not only help in detecting violators but also enhance the confidence of our ticket-checking staff" said an official.

More Ticket Checkers to Be Equipped with Body Cameras

Given the success of the pilot program, WR is now planning to equip more ticket checkers with body cameras. The railway authorities believe that wider implementation of this technology will further improve compliance, reduce disputes, and strengthen ticket-checking operations across the network.