Passengers buying reserved tickets at station counters will be able to opt for insurance worth up to ₹10 lakh from 27 October, extending a scheme previously focused on online bookings.
Indian Railways will extend its optional travel insurance scheme to passengers buying reserved tickets at station reservation counters from October 27, broadening a cover that until now was mainly available to people booking online through the IRCTC website and app. According to The Hindu, the Railway Board has told zonal railways to make all Passenger Reservation System counters ready for the facility and to ensure staff explain the option to passengers at the point of sale.
Under the arrangement, travellers who want the cover will need to provide a mobile number and pay the premium digitally at the time they buy the ticket. The premium has been fixed at 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of tax, while the insurance terms for counter bookings will mirror those already used for e-ticket sales. The Hindu said the policy details will be sent by text message and e-mail, and the policy number will also appear in the booking history on the IRCTC portal.
The cover is limited to Indian citizens and applies only when a reserved ticket is booked. Once selected, it will cover everyone travelling under the same passenger name record. According to The Hindu, the scheme pays out for death, disability, hospital treatment following injuries, and the transport of mortal remains after a railway accident or other untoward incident, with compensation ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh depending on the claim. Other reports said the policy also includes permanent partial disability and hospitalisation costs, with some payouts specified at ₹7.5 lakh for partial disability, up to ₹2 lakh for treatment, and ₹10,000 for transporting remains.
The scheme’s rollout follows a Supreme Court direction that pushed Indian Railways to extend insurance protection to offline ticket buyers, according to reports from The Indian Express, Mint and other Indian media. While the insurance remains optional for passengers, the railways are now required to offer it at reservation counters as well. The Centre for Railway Information Systems is carrying out the system work with IRCTC to integrate the service across booking offices, and children below five travelling without a reserved berth or seat will not be covered. Children aged five to 11 will be eligible if a ticket has been booked, even if no berth has been assigned.
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