Railway Expands Travel Insurance to Counter Ticket Purchases Following Supreme Court Ruling
Introduction of Travel Insurance for Counter Tickets
New Delhi. Following a directive from the Supreme Court, the Railway Board has announced the extension of optional travel insurance to passengers purchasing tickets at reservation counters. Previously, this insurance was only available for those booking tickets online. With the new ruling, passengers buying tickets from railway reservation centers can now also benefit from this service. A premium of 45 paise per ticket will be charged for this insurance. The Railway Board has instructed all zonal railways to implement this arrangement by October 27. Additionally, staff at reservation counters have been directed to inform passengers about the availability of this insurance and its associated terms.
Details of the Insurance Scheme
According to the Railway Board's guidelines, the travel insurance will remain entirely optional. Passengers wishing to avail this service will need to pay the insurance premium along with the ticket fare. However, the premium can only be paid through digital means. When booking tickets at the counter, passengers must choose whether they want the insurance option. Providing a mobile number is mandatory during this process. Furthermore, the passenger's name and other necessary details must be accurately recorded as per the reservation procedure to ensure the information reaches the insurance company for policy issuance.
Instructions for Railway Staff
The Railway Board has also issued necessary instructions to reservation supervisors and counter staff regarding this initiative. Employees will be educated about the optional nature of the insurance, the process for recording passenger consent, premium collection, and how to address passenger inquiries. Passengers opting for insurance will be informed that details related to their policy will be sent to their registered mobile number. The aim of the railway is to ensure that passengers purchasing tickets at counters can access this facility without any difficulties.
Supreme Court's Directive
On October 6, the Supreme Court ordered the Railway Board to extend the optional travel insurance facility to tickets purchased offline, specifically at railway reservation counters. The court noted that despite the rise in online ticket bookings, a significant number of passengers still rely on railway counters, particularly those living in remote areas where online booking may not be feasible. Thus, providing insurance only to online ticket buyers does not ensure equal opportunities for all passengers.
Insurance Terms Similar to E-Tickets
The Railway Board clarified that the same rules and conditions applicable to e-ticket passengers under the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) optional travel insurance scheme will also apply to insurance policies issued for counter-purchased tickets. This means there will be no new arrangements regarding eligibility, coverage, or other related provisions. The premium for counter tickets remains set at 45 paise, identical to that for online tickets.
Eligibility and Coverage
As per the current guidelines, only Indian citizens can benefit from this scheme. The insurance option is available for confirmed, partially confirmed, and RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets at the time of booking. Passengers must decide on the insurance at the time of ticket purchase, as it does not automatically apply later.
Financial Protection in Case of Accidents
The primary aim of the optional travel insurance is to provide financial security to passengers in the event of railway accidents or other unfortunate incidents. This scheme covers death, permanent total disability, partial disability, and hospitalization expenses due to accidents. Additionally, expenses related to the transportation of the deceased's body in case of death due to a railway accident or other specified unfortunate events are included in the insurance coverage. The insured amount can range from ₹2 lakh to ₹10 lakh, depending on the severity of the accident and the nature of the loss.
Limitations for General Class Passengers
Despite the extension of insurance to counter tickets, passengers traveling in general or second class without reservations remain excluded from this optional insurance scheme. A significant portion of train travelers falls into this category. Therefore, while passengers purchasing reserved tickets will gain additional security, general class passengers will not benefit from this facility at this time.
Children's Eligibility
Moreover, children under five years of age whose tickets are booked without a reserved seat or berth are not eligible for this insurance scheme. However, insurance is available for children aged five to eleven, regardless of whether their tickets are booked with or without a berth. Thus, the railway's new decision enhances insurance coverage access for passengers traveling with reserved tickets, while limitations remain for general class and some other ineligible passengers.