Western Railway Fines Thousands in Six Month Crackdown at Palghar and Bhayandar
The Western Railway's Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Commercial Department recovered Rs 40.81 lakh in fines during a six-month crackdown on the Mumbai suburban network. Conducted between January 1 and June 25, 2026, the drive targeted illegal hawkers, unauthorized persons, and door-blocking passengers to improve commuter safety at stations including Palghar, Vasai Road, and Bhayandar.
During the campaign, security personnel carried out 15,589 enforcement actions, penalizing a total of 15,572 individuals. The special drive aimed to keep railway premises free from illegal activities and ensure smoother train operations.
The largest share of enforcement actions was directed at illegal hawkers. The RPF registered 7,765 cases under the Railways Act, arresting 7,748 hawkers and recovering Rs 38.41 lakh in fines. Among the stations, Valsad recorded the highest number of hawker cases at 1,315, followed by Vapi with 830, Palghar with 774, Nandurbar with 691, and Vasai Road with 621 cases.
In addition to the action against hawkers, joint drives with the Commercial Department penalized 7,782 unauthorized persons found inside railway premises. This component of the drive resulted in the recovery of Rs 2.38 lakh in fines.
The enforcement drive also targeted passengers who block the doors of local trains, which railway officials noted poses a severe safety risk and causes operational delays. Under Section 155(2) of the Railways Act, 42 cases were registered and 42 offenders were booked. Bhayandar station recorded the highest concentration of these offenses, accounting for 35 of the 42 cases. A total of Rs 1,400 in fines was recovered from door-blocking passengers.
To execute the six-month campaign, the RPF deployed 482 of its own personnel along with 181 Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel across the Western Railway suburban section.
Railway officials stated that the drive is part of an ongoing effort to prevent trespassing, discourage illegal vending, and maintain a safe travel environment on the busy suburban network.
