Title - Surprise checks net big fine amount

MANGALORE: The surprise or 'ambush checks' carried out in Palakkad division from June 25 to 27 in which a total of 1,715 cases were detected has helped the railways raise Rs 3,22,014 in the form of fine amount.

Major cases were ticketless travel, unbooked luggage and other irregular travel. On June 27, Mohan A Menon, addition divisional railway manager and team, stopped train 16324 Shalimar - Thiruvananthapuram Express at Kanjikode station. Assisted by PA Dhanajayan, senior divisional commercial manager, and C Ramdasan, assistant security commissioner of Palakkad division and 26 staff from ticket checking with help from eight RPF personnel carried out the checks. In addition to ticket check, the additional DRM interacted with passengers to assess the overall service rendered by railways. By and large passengers expressed their satisfaction, S James, divisional PRO, said.

During the course of check, one of the ticket checking staff recovered a purse containing Rs 8,010 which was handed over to the legitimate owner at Palakkad duly making announcement through public address system.