Title - TCs resent `2,000 fine diktat

In its bid to restrain ticketless travellers, the Western Railways set a quota for ticket collectors (TCs) on Monday. TCs have been asked to collect a minimum of Rs2,000 in fines everyday, except for holidays. The TCs, however, are protesting this stricture. They reported to work with black-ribbons on their shirts on Monday. They dubbed the day ‘Black Day.’ TCs from areas including Vasai,Virar and Bhayandar took part in the protest. “Meeting this target will be difficult. We are working under a lot of pressure. In many cases, the offenders don’t have money to pay the fine. So they are let off with a small fine. In these cases, we do not make official receipts,” a TC from Vasai said, on condition of anonymity. “We are not against a target, but WR should not see fines as a way of increasing its revenue,” another TC said. “There are various internal issues over which employees and administration are at loggerheads. We are trying to resolve this issue. But we can’t say when we can solve it,” said CNK David, Western Railways PRO. The ticket collectors’ union did not comment on the issue.