It is a well-known fact that Mumbai Local Trains are the lifeline of Mumbaikars. Not only does it help Mumbaikars beat the heavy traffic but also it is pocket friendly. However, reports suggest that the Railways are witnessing a surge in without-ticket passengers, especially after 8 pm (IST) as ticket inspectors or TTEs are largely absent in the late evening hours. Therefore, to combat this, the Western Railway's Mumbai division has formed a special team to check tickets inside local trains and at stations during the night. The railways has named this team as the 'Batman Squad', which stands for 'Be Aware TTE Manning At Night'. Now, the question arises what is Batman Squad of Mumbai local trains and how will it work? Below is everything you need to know-
What is Batman Squad?
As mentioned above, the BATMAN squad is formed by Western Railway's Mumbai division to check tickets inside the Mumbai Local trains during the night time. BATMAN stands for Be Aware TTE Manning At Night. For the unversed, Batman is a famous comic character from DC who is a vigilante who roams the fictional Gotham City in the night to save people from any type of crime.
Talking about Western Railways's Mumbai Division Batman squad, the checking by the team started on the night of March 11, marking the initiation of this campaign. While the primary responsibility of the Batman team is to ensure ticket compliance, they are also tasked with monitoring activities taking place at the stations during the night.
This enhanced vigilance is expected to provide a sense of safety and security for women passengers, as the TTEs will now conduct checks in the women's coach during nighttime hours. As per reports, BATMAN squad formation took place after the massive surge in without-ticket passengers was witnessed especially for those traveling in AC locals during the night. Passengers who purchase tickets at five times the normal price have faced numerous difficulties due to the overcrowding caused by ticketless individuals.