Indian Railways Extends Travel Insurance to Counter Tickets After Court Order

What Happened

Following a Supreme Court order, the Railway Board has extended its optional travel insurance facility to passengers who book reserved tickets at physical railway counters. Previously, this insurance coverage was only available for reserved tickets purchased online through the IRCTC platform. The Railway Board issued a directive on Saturday instructing all zonal railways to implement this change by October 27. Counter staff must now inform passengers about the insurance option and ensure that mobile numbers are recorded accurately during the booking process.

Implementation Details

Under the new system, the insurance premium must be paid digitally using electronic payment methods alongside the ticket fare. The scheme applies to Indian citizens with confirmed, partly confirmed, and RAC tickets at a cost of 45 paise per counter ticket, which matches the existing e-ticket premium. The policy covers death, permanent total disability, partial disability, hospitalisation expenses for injuries, and the transportation of mortal remains following train accidents or untoward incidents. The insured sum ranges from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh depending on the severity of the incident.

Exceptions and Limitations

While the expansion covers all reserved class passengers purchasing tickets offline, several groups remain excluded from the current policy. Second class and general class passengers, who make up the majority of train travelers, are still not covered under this insurance scheme. Additionally, children below five years of age who travel without a berth or seat are not eligible, though children aged between five and eleven years with or without a berth are included.

Context

Although over 87 percent of railway tickets are currently booked online due to a strong push for digitisation, many passengers from remote areas still rely heavily on physical reservation counters. The Supreme Court noted that this extension provides vital protection for individuals belonging to the lowest strata of society who typically purchase tickets in person. The Railways only provide links to insurance companies through its systems, and claims are settled directly between the passengers and the respective insurance providers.