India, Jan. 30 -- If you are caught travelling without a valid ticket in local trains and unwilling to pay the fine, you could be placed in a designated 'pre-custody area' which is being created by Western Railway on the platforms of railway stations. The ticket-checking staff is also being provided with bodycams that will not only record the conversation with commuters caught without a ticket but also enlist them in a database of 'habitual offenders' who might have to pay higher fines.

The trials for the pre-custody areas began earlier last week and their scope is being widened on the Churchgate-Virar-Dahanu suburban corridor. According to WR officials, at present these areas have been created at the prominent stations of Borivali and A...