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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
1,400 drug traffickers held; smugglers now hide bags in AC coaches after unreserved travel to Tamil Nadu
Chennai: In 2024, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested 1,489 traffickers and seized narcotics worth over ₹227.5 crore across India, with Tamil Nadu emerging as a key destination in several major seizures. Intelligence gathered by the RPF and Greater Chennai Police (GCP) revealed a shift in modus operandi among smugglers using the railway network to move drugs into the state. One such emerging trend is traffickers travelling without reservations, blending in with unreserved passengers—often migrant workers from Odisha and West Bengal—to avoid leaving any traceable digital footprint. RPF officials say this tactic allows traffickers to bypass identification that would otherwise be possible through reserved ticket records. To counter this, the RPF intensified checks in unreserved compartments and flagged passengers with disproportionately large bags. However, in response, traffickers have now adopted a new tactic: abandoning drug-laden bags in First AC and Second AC coaches, where checks are rare, said a senior police officer from GCP's Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "They later board the train a few stops ahead of Chennai and retrieve these bags just before reaching the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 안구건조 걱정 없이 안전하게! 강남아이원스안과 지금 신청하기 Undo Many get down at lesser-patrolled stations like Tada, Gummidipoondi, or Ponneri to avoid the intense surveillance at Chennai Central," the officer said. This new method came to light during recent operations, including a case in March 2024 where 31.5 kg of methamphetamine, valued at ₹150 crore, was seized from a passenger on the Pothigai Express in Madurai. Tamil Nadu continues to be a prominent endpoint in narcotics routes from Odisha, Jharkhand, and the northeast, especially for cannabis and synthetic drugs. With trains running through relatively unchecked corridors and night services offering anonymity, traffickers have increasingly relied on railways to supply narcotics to high-demand cities like Chennai and Bengaluru. According to the RPF, apart from general compartments, parcel vans, and luggage sections of long-distance trains are also frequently exploited. The RPF, now empowered under the NDPS Act since 2019, is using dog squads, crime mapping, and joint raids with the Narcotics Control Bureau to crack down on this network. But officers admit challenges remain, especially with scanning gaps in parcel services and the absence of X-ray baggage checks at key stations in Tamil Nadu.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Now, travel in Third AC at the fare of sleeper
CHENNAI: In a key policy shift, Indian Railways have issued instructions to fill all vacant seats and berths in AC coaches of trains through the 'auto upgrade' facility with holders of confirmed tickets from lower classes like Sleeper Class (SL) and Second Sitting (2S) during the preparation of the first chart, which is usually done four hours before the departure of a train from its source. The move is likely to make the Current Booking (CB) facility unavailable in AC coaches, such as Chair Car (CC), Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A), and First AC (1A). However, the CB will be available for SL and 2S. The CB facility was introduced for last-minute bookings, if there are any vacancies after the preparation of the first chart. It is allowed usually up to 30 minutes before departure. Seats will be available under the CB category for any train only if there are vacant seats – after emergency quotas and different types of waitlists are processed – available after the preparation of the first chart. With Railways deciding to prioritise filling seats in AC coaches through auto upgrades, such CB vacancies are unlikely to become available in AC coaches, except in very rare situations when seats remain vacant even after upgrades. The new changes communicated by the Railway Board to Southern Railway and all other zonal railways on Thursday will not only ensure that all the seats and berths in AC classes get occupied to the maximum extent possible but also enhance the chances of confirmed tatkal ticket holders in SL and 2S to get upgraded to 3A or CC, respectively. The Railway Board has also ordered that upgrades can be done only up to two levels. For example, SL can be upgraded to 3A and 2A. Similarly, 2S tickets may be upgraded to Vistadome 2S or CC. Upgrades to 1A and Executive Class are, however, restricted to only one level below, that is, from 2A to 1A or from CC to EC. For instance, a person with confirmed ticket in 3A cannot get upgraded to 1A. Auto upgrade – such as from SL to 3A and from 3A to 2A – facility was introduced in 2006. However, this facility is limited to passengers who paid the highest fare in their class, which would mean those who paid tatkal fare or full fare of the tickets without availing of any concessions. An official from the Southern Railway stated, 'Currently, most AC seats and berths get fully booked across the zone. However, during off-peak periods, on trains with higher AC seat availability, passengers with non-AC tickets might receive upgrades.'
