A Modern Solution
India once struggled with massive numbers of ticketless train passengers—but remarkably, it found a way to solve this problem!
The solution? Instead of focusing only on punishment, Indian Railways introduced an affordable “platform ticket” so people could access the station without breaking the rules. But here’s where it gets even more clever: they launched Lucky Yatra, a reward scheme to encourage passengers to buy valid tickets.
How Lucky Yatra worked:
Passengers who bought tickets were automatically entered into a lottery-style draw. Winners could receive cash prizes, free upgrades, or even free future journeys. This gamified approach not only made buying a ticket more exciting but also boosted compliance dramatically—proving that positive incentives can sometimes work better than penalties. Do you think this can work in the US? Share your thoughts in the comments! Oh, and feel free to share YOUR fun facts in the comments, or in another thread here!
