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Are these TCs on Dadar FOB genuine?

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Are central railway (CR) authorities putting pressure on their ticket checking staff (TC) to generate additional revenue? Or, are some passengers being duped by con men acting as TCs?
Can't say! What is known is valid ticket holders are being targeted by people who claim to be TCs at Dadar railway station foot over bridge (FOB). 
Dadar is a major terminus. Local and long distance trains on both western and central lines (almost all prominent trains that take people to different states) stop here or start from here. 

What do these TCs do?
A group of TCs stands on the FOB between platform no. 3 and 4; stop passengers coming from western railway side and heading to the long distance platforms on CR side, and demand they show their tickets. Fair enough.
But when long distance passengers show their tickets, TCs tell them they are on CR territory and WR tickets are not valid. Unaware what wrong they had done, these hapless passengers shell out the fine demanded.
You also find another group of TCs stationed at the western railway end of the same FOB, intercepting passengers heading that way from central railway side.

Are these TCs genuine? 
Can't say. These people never display their identity cards. And usually they don’t insist on the full penalty, instead negotiate and settle for smaller amounts.

Who are the targets?
Targets are usually simpletons, who are unlikely to be aware that a passenger with a valid CR or WR ticket is entitled to use the bridge. It's also alleged that sometimes no receipt is issued and TCs pocket the fine amount!

Hasn't the railway put up notices?
It has. Railways has put up notice on both ends of both western and central railway saying passengers with valid tickets (of both railways) can use this bridge. However, there is no notice on the WR end.

Why were Tiwari and Akhilesh fined?
Ramanand Tiwari, a passenger who had to pay a hefty fine says: “We were stopped by TCs. I paid Rs500 for five passengers despite having valid suburban tickets which we had bought from Vasai Road (to Dadar). I wanted to catch the train to UP, and I barely had any time to complain (clarify) about this to senior authorities as the train was about to leave.”
Akhilesh Singh, another passenger who was duped, said: “We were stopped by TCs. I paid Rs500 for five passengers despite having a valid suburban ticket which we had bought from Nallasopara (to Dadar). I was in a hurry as my train was about to leave. Hence, there was no time to find out what is what.”

What do railway officials say?
Ashok Kumar Singh, PRO (CR) said: “We have received similar complaints on a few occasions earlier too. We will take up the issue with the officials concerned and try and sort out the issue at the earliest. We have put up notice boards on the FOB to avoid such incidence. Passengers who have been penalized should complaint at the station manager’s office. Passengers with valid CR, WR tickets can use the FOB.”
WR additional divisional railway manager (Mumbai) Soumya Mathur said: “I will make sure that notice boards are put up at prominent places in Dadar railway station. We will investigate the matter and take appropriate action if this is found to be true.”

 

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