Metro racket: Operators charge extra from unaware passengers

The next time you buy a token from a crowded Delhi Metro station, make sure you know the correct amount. Many operators are cheating and charging extra.

The intelligence wing of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has unearthed a racket where operators were taking extra amount from commuters who were not aware of the fare structure.

The matter came to light in the first week of July when intelligence unit noticed a suspicious person, who has been coming to Chandni Chowk metro station for the past three days but not boarding the train.

“Our staff noticed that the man used to stand in the queue, reach the ticket counter and talk to the operator and move to another counter without taking any token. He repeated this for a few days in a row and one day we observed him for three hours and in the evening, caught him while he was taking cash from an operator,” said a senior CISF official, requesting anonymity. The interrogation revealed that the operators used to collect extra amount from passengers, and then hand it over to this person to avoid detection.

“The operators sitting at cash counters are not allowed to carry cash. The money they collect in form of fare is recorded in the machine and thus there is no chance of siphoning off the money. These operators were cheating passengers by not returning the exact amount they are supposed to. They were in touch with an outsider to whom they would hand over the money from time to time so that they don’t get caught,” the official added.

They used to distribute the money after duty hours. During personal search, CISF recovered Rs 2700 from him. According to DMRC officials, they too have a vigilance cell, who conducts surprise checks to ensure commuters are not harassed. “In this case we have initiated action against the operators,” said a DMRC official.

The man was handed over to the station manager and interrogation further revealed that he was in touch with six operators. The matter was also brought to the notice of the Delhi Police so that they can investigate the conspiracy and unearth the whole racket.