Railway Department earns over Rs. 16 million in fines

by P.P.G. Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group cor

The Railway Department has collected over Rs. 16,979,565 in fines from errant commuters through mobile inspections and sudden raids in trains from January to December last year.

According to Railway Commercial Superintendent G.W.S. Sisira Kumara this record revenue has been earned from 13,855 errant train commuters in fines in detections on trains in Colombo, Nawalapitiya and Anuradhapura.

Travelling in class 1 and 2 compartments with class 3 tickets, ticketless travel and travelling beyond the destinations specified in their tickets were the offences they committed.

To minimise corruption and malpractices by some of the train passengers the fine has been enhanced to Rs. 2,500 and mobile inspections and sudden raids have been intensified Commercial Superintendent G.W.S. Sisira Kumara said.

A drop in the number of offences has been experienced with the increased in the railway fine to Rs. 2,500 he said.