A ticket-checking dispute at Mumbai’s Kandivali railway station escalated on Friday evening after a woman passenger allegedly tried to leave without completing the enforcement process and a Chief Ticket Inspector fell while attempting to stop her, according to Western Railway. Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police personnel intervened after a group gathered outside the ticket-checking office.
The incident took place at around 7.30 pm in the western circulating area of Kandivali station, where Chief Ticket Inspector Priya Ambavade was carrying out routine ticket-checking duties. Western Railway said a woman passenger, aged around 25, initially requested that she be allowed to leave without paying the applicable penalty. Ambavade continued with the ticket-checking procedure, according to the railway account.
Another woman found travelling without a valid ticket paid the applicable penalty. The first woman allegedly attempted to flee the station to avoid the process. While trying to stop her, Ambavade reportedly lost her balance and fell on the platform. Western Railway also said the woman’s clothing was partially torn during the incident. The circumstances surrounding the fall and the subsequent confrontation are expected to be examined.
The woman was later taken to the ticket-checking office for further action. However, three to four unidentified women accompanying her allegedly intervened and took her away from the railway premises, disrupting the official process, the railway administration said.
The situation intensified when a group gathered outside the office and raised allegations against the inspector, including claims that she had used inappropriate language and behaved arrogantly. According to Western Railway, the gathering pressured Ambavade to issue a public apology, which she declined. An individual claiming to be a journalist also approached the inspector for a statement, but she did not comment at that stage.
GRP and RPF personnel subsequently intervened to manage the gathering and disperse the crowd. Western Railway said most people had left the spot after the intervention, while a few individuals remained. Authorities were monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of railway staff and passengers and to restore normalcy at the station.
The incident highlights the pressure points around ticket enforcement in Mumbai’s suburban railway system, where staff conduct checks in busy public areas and disputes can quickly affect station operations. The railway administration said ticket-checking personnel must be able to perform their duties without intimidation or obstruction.
Western Railway also said allegations concerning railway staff should be examined objectively through appropriate channels and on the basis of available evidence. It reiterated its commitment to fair enforcement of ticketing rules and urged passengers to cooperate with authorised personnel.
