Mumbai local trains: Travelling without ticket? 'Batman' may catch you

Mumbai's local trains and stations have experienced an increase in ticketless passengers during the evening hours, as ticket inspectors are mostly absent after 8 pm. To address this issue, the Mumbai division of the Western Railway has formed a dedicated team called the 'Batman Squad' to conduct ticket checks inside local trains and at stations during the night. The 'Batman' team, which stands for 'Be Aware TTE Manning At Night', commenced their patrolling on March 11. So far, around 2,500 ticketless passengers have faced consequences, resulting in a revenue gain of approximately Rs 6.50 lakh for the railway.

Apart from ensuring ticket compliance, the Batman Squad also monitors activities at the stations during the night. This increased vigilance aims to provide a sense of safety and security for women passengers, as ticket inspectors will now conduct checks in the women's coach during nighttime hours.

The surge in ticketless and general ticket passengers has been particularly problematic for those traveling in AC locals during the night. Passengers who purchase tickets at five times the normal price have faced numerous difficulties due to overcrowding caused by ticketless individuals. Social media platforms have been flooded with daily complaints, leading the railway to deploy the Batman Squad during night hours to tackle this pressing issue.


In an effort to promote digital tickets, the Western Railway recently launched a campaign that has yielded positive results. There has been an increase in the usage of the UTS mobile app for ticket bookings. The number of tickets booked through mobile channels has doubled after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the growing acceptance and adoption of digital ticketing methods.

(The article was originally published in the Navbharat Times)