India, June 8 -- Could a dedicated squad of ticket checkers (TCs) in air-conditioned (AC) local trains be the key to punctual train services on the Western Railway? The railway believes it is.

It's been a week since this 15-member squad dedicated to AC locals has been keeping tabs on ticketless travellers inside these locals. Ticketless commuters have been crowding AC locals, especially during peak hours, preventing the doors of these trains from closing. This, in turn, prevents the train from leaving the platform. Many ticketless travellers have also been crowding the footboards of AC trains, just as they do regular local trains. This too means the doors won't shut.

A senior WR official said this triggers a domino effect, leading to de...