Vande Bharat Ticketless Travel: In a major embarrassment to the railway higher-ups, two Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) on the luxurious Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express were suspended for permitting ticketless travelers board the practice in an illegal way and accepting cash payment without issuing receipts.
The accused, Nasim and Arjun Sahu, were caught red-handed in a trap laid on the evening of May 11 by Vinita Kumar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) of the Dhanbad Division under whose jurisdiction Tatanagar falls. On the spot enforcement, the ADRM discovered 11 passengers traveling without tickets—all of whom had reportedly been illegally sheltered by the two TTEs for bribes.
Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat: PDP Leader Demands Vande Bharat Stop at Budgam Station
Vande Bharat Ticketless Travel
This incident has justifiably raised more focus on the oversight and safety monitoring valves aboard premium category trains. The Vande Bharat Express, launched with much sound and fury and hailed as a harbinger of India’s future modern rail infrastructure, needs service excellence, proxy professionalism and service integrity all-around.
In the wake of the mishandling, the railway’s authorities had sworn that these incident would never be accepted. The measures were being implemented to enhance monitoring systems including surprise inspections, installation of CCTV cameras, and even biometric attendance monitoring for on-board TTEs.
With premium services and stringent onboard ticketing protocols, the Vande Bharat Express was likely in the daily crosshairs when the major miss was disclosed. The train, connecting Patna and Tatanagar, has individual reserved-seat, electronic ticketing systems. Even with 11 unauthorised passengers on board, the Act has been violated on an unprecedented scale by railway procedures.
Eyewitnesses and evidence obtained in the subsequent inspection pointed unequivocally to inspectors that the two TTEs had overstepped their authority. Instead of getting the riders who didn’t buy train tracks on the inventory for ticketless riders or charging penalties based on consultancy, they reportedly accepted the alternative exchange cash and observed the travelers go.
Following the on-site inspection, the team filed a detailed report emphasizing areas of concern and suggestions to the Chakradharpur Railway Division and federal counterparts. After an extensive first round though Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Senior DCM) Aditya Chaudhary didn’t waste time and immediately suspended both TTEs from working on the train. For the time being, they have been diverted away to Tatanagar Station until a departmental inquiry.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Set to Cut Travel Time: Hyderabad to Delhi in just 17 Hours?
Further Investigation
This key issue is the subject of intense scrutiny. “After a thorough preliminary review, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Senior DCM) Aditya Chaudhary took swift action, removing both TTEs from train duty with immediate effect. For the time being, they have been reassigned to Tatanagar Station pending a full departmental inquiry.
“The matter is being investigated thoroughly. Strict disciplinary action will be taken after the final report,” said Senior DCM Aditya Chaudhary. He also reiterated the zero-tolerance policy of the Railways toward corruption and negligence, especially involving premium trains like the Vande Bharat Express.
The violation has been condemned by passengers and passenger rail unions. This completely misses the point of the reason people choose Vande Bharat in the first place. “We’ve been waiting for quality and transparency,” said Ramesh Jha, a regular Patna-Jamshedpur traveler.
Meanwhile, sources within the railway department indicate that more such surprise checks may be conducted on other trains in the region to weed out similar irregularities.
