Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS): The Eastern Railway (ER) collected Rs.25.79 crore as penalty from ticketless travellers and for unreserved luggage from April to December last year, an official statement said here Monday.

While the fine from ticketless commuters was Rs.19.80 crore, another Rs.5.99 crore was realised for unbooked luggage which is an increase of 11.34 percent over the previous year for the same period.

"The Sealdah division of itself earned nearly Rs.6.55 crore as fine from a total of 2.47 lakh passengers travelling without ticket and Rs.3.27 crore from detection of 3.4 lakh of unbooked luggage," the Eastern Railway said in a statement.

"Altogether, 13 magisterial checks and 71 special ticket-checking drives were conducted on different sections of Sealdah division," it added.

The railway authorities have intensified its ticket-checking operations across various stations within its jurisdiction and appealed to the public to travel with proper ticket and book their luggage.