Ticketless train travellers rise

K. A. Perera - Wadduwa special corr.

Ticketless travel has increased on trains plying along the Southern coastline causing a sharp revenue loss to the Railway, sources said.

Sources at the Kalutara station said they collected Rs. 60,000 as fines from commuters nabbed for ticketless travel on Coastal Express trains such as Sagarika, Ruhunu Kumari, Samudra Devi and Galu Kumari trains during raids conducted recently. There were 20 passengers arrested for travelling in second class compartments with the possession of third class-tickets.

They included men and women.

Railway Authorities said, the raids commenced at Kalutara South Railway Station at 2.15 p.m. and continued till 9.00 p.m.

The raids were conducted between Kalutara South and Fort Railway Stations.

The majority of ticketless travellers were in the Samudra Devi office train.

Over 20 ticket examiners checked the tickets under the direction of Authority of Railway Security Officers Navaratne Banda, deputy Anura Senaratna, Chief Inspector of Security Service of Railway K.K. Chandrapala and a team of Inspectors.

Railway sources said frequent checking of trains by examiners would reduce the ticketless travellers to a minimum and increase the revenue.