RPF Mumbai Central logs 2,581 cases, ₹32.26 lakh in fines in August crackdown
Synopsis
In a single month, the RPF's Mumbai Central Division booked 2,581 people and collected ₹32.26 lakh in fines — from track trespassers to illegal hawkers to PwD-coach violators. With 474 disability-coach cases alone, the numbers expose how routinely reserved spaces on one of the world's busiest suburban networks are flouted.
Key Takeaways
RPF Mumbai Central Division registered 2,581 cases and collected ₹32.26 lakh in fines during August 2025 .
985 individuals were apprehended for unauthorised entry onto railway tracks under Section 147 ; fines totalled ₹4,92,500 .
774 unauthorised vendors were caught under Section 144 , yielding the highest fine collection of ₹15,48,000 .
474 people were detained for trespassing in PwD-reserved coaches ; 83 for entering women's coaches without authorisation.
211 transgender persons were apprehended under Section 145-B for alleged extortion and harassment of passengers.
The drive was led by Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh Rathore across ASC Surat, ASC Virar, and ASC Mumbai Central teams.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Mumbai Central Division, registered 2,581 enforcement cases in August 2025 and collected approximately ₹32.26 lakh in fines, targeting a wide range of violations including unauthorised track entry, illegal vending, trespass into reserved coaches, and alcohol transportation. The month-long drive signals a sustained push to restore safety and order across one of India's busiest suburban rail networks.
Scale of the Campaign
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh Rathore, with enforcement teams drawn from ASC Surat, ASC Virar, and ASC Mumbai Central, led by SIPF In-charge Santosh Soni. The campaign ran throughout August, covering trains, platforms, and station premises across the division.
The breadth of violations addressed — from footboard travel and alarm-chain misuse to poster-pasting and no-parking infractions — reflects an effort to enforce discipline at multiple levels simultaneously, rather than targeting a single category of offence.
Key Enforcement Numbers
Unauthorised entry onto railway tracks drew the highest number of apprehensions: 985 individuals were detained under Section 147 of the amended Railway Act, with fines totalling ₹4,92,500. Illegal vending was the second-largest category — 774 unauthorised hawkers were caught under Section 144, yielding fines of ₹15,48,000.
Trespass into coaches reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) accounted for 474 cases under Section 155, with approximately ₹9.48 lakh collected. Unauthorised entry into women's coaches resulted in 83 apprehensions under Section 162 and fines of ₹2,07,500.
Other Violations Targeted
The RPF also acted against alleged extortion and harassment on trains: 211 transgender persons were apprehended under Section 145-B. Separately, 32 individuals were caught transporting alcohol illegally on railway premises. Minor but persistent nuisances were also addressed — three individuals were fined ₹6,000 each under Section 167 for smoking, and 10 individuals were fined ₹20,000 under Section 166 for pasting posters and stickers on coaches.
One passenger was fined ₹1,000 for dangerously riding the footboard of a moving train. A case of unnecessary alarm-chain pulling was also registered, and a suspected habitual offender was caught allegedly stealing a passenger's luggage, underscoring the RPF's parallel focus on petty crime alongside regulatory enforcement.
Why This Matters
Mumbai's suburban rail system carries an estimated 7.5 million passengers daily, making enforcement lapses disproportionately consequential. Track trespass alone is a leading cause of rail fatalities in the city. The scale of PwD coach violations — 474 cases in a single month — points to a persistent accessibility problem that fines alone may not resolve.
This is not an isolated exercise: the RPF has periodically mounted similar drives in the division, but the ₹32.26 lakh fine collection in a single month marks a significant enforcement intensity. Whether the deterrent effect sustains beyond the campaign period will be the real measure of its impact.
What Comes Next
The RPF has not announced a formal end to the enforcement posture, suggesting the heightened vigilance may continue into September. Commuter welfare groups have long called for permanent deployment increases rather than periodic campaigns. The division is expected to release updated compliance data in the coming weeks.
Point of View
But periodic crackdowns on Mumbai's suburban rail have a familiar arc — intense enforcement, a spike in fine collection, then a gradual return to baseline. The 474 PwD-coach violations in a single month are the most telling figure: they reveal that reserved-access infrastructure is routinely ignored, a problem that fines address only at the margins. A durable fix requires permanent staffing at coach entry points, not month-long campaigns. Until the RPF publishes recidivism and compliance data, it is difficult to assess whether these drives change behaviour or merely generate revenue.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cases did the RPF register in Mumbai Central Division in August 2025?
The RPF registered 2,581 enforcement cases across the Mumbai Central Division in August 2025, collecting approximately ₹32.26 lakh in fines under various provisions of the amended Railway Act. The drive targeted track trespass, illegal vending, reserved-coach violations, and alcohol transportation, among other offences.
Which violation drew the most fines in the RPF's August crackdown?
Illegal vending yielded the highest fine collection — ₹15,48,000 — after 774 unauthorised hawkers were apprehended under Section 144 of the Railway Act. Track trespass was the most common offence by headcount, with 985 individuals detained under Section 147.
Why were 474 people booked for travelling in PwD coaches?
The RPF apprehended 474 individuals under Section 155 for occupying coaches reserved for Persons with Disabilities without authorisation, collecting approximately ₹9.48 lakh in fines. The action was intended to protect accessibility facilities specifically designated for passengers with disabilities.
Who led the RPF enforcement campaign in Mumbai Central?
The campaign was conducted under the guidance of Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh Rathore, with teams from ASC Surat, ASC Virar, and ASC Mumbai Central led by SIPF In-charge Santosh Soni. The operation ran throughout August 2025.
What action did the RPF take against harassment of passengers on Mumbai trains?
The RPF apprehended 211 transgender persons under Section 145-B in connection with alleged extortion and harassment of passengers on trains and at stations. The action was aimed at providing relief to commuters from such activities, according to the force.
