Indian Railways travel insurance will be available to passengers booking reserved tickets at railway reservation counters from October 27, extending the optional facility beyond online bookings. Passengers can opt for insurance coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh by paying a premium of 45 paise per person, inclusive of taxes.
The Optional Travel Insurance (OTI) scheme was previously available only to passengers booking e-tickets through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and mobile application. The extension brings eligible passengers purchasing reserved tickets through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters under the same insurance framework.
The move follows a Supreme Court direction earlier this month requiring Indian Railways to extend travel insurance to tickets purchased at reservation counters from October 27. The court also warned that the Railway Board would be held directly responsible for any failure to implement the order.
The direction arose from a plea filed after the June 2023 Odisha train accident. The petitioner sought a commission of inquiry into the crash, citing the non-implementation of the Kavach train safety system and seeking its early implementation across trains.
Indian Railways travel insurance requires digital payment
Passengers opting for the insurance must provide a valid mobile number and pay the premium digitally along with the ticket fare. Accepted payment methods include UPI, debit cards, credit cards and QR code-based payment systems.
Passengers paying in cash will not be eligible for the insurance facility. Those who do not opt for the scheme will also remain outside its coverage.
Policy details will be sent to the mobile number provided during booking, allowing passengers to receive information about their insurance coverage.
Insurance benefits include up to Rs 10 lakh
According to Y Balaji Kiran, Chief Public Relations Officer of South Coast Railway, the insurance premium for online bookings has been fixed at 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of taxes, since February 17, 2024.
The same premium and policy terms will apply to passengers opting for insurance at PRS counters. Senior railway officials will monitor implementation, while the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC will provide technical and operational support.
The coverage benefits under the scheme include:
- Death: Up to Rs 10 lakh
- Permanent total disability: Up to ₹10 lakh
- Permanent partial disability: Up to ₹7.5 lakh
- Hospitalisation expenses for injuries: Up to ₹2 lakh
- Transportation of mortal remains: Up to ₹10,000
Compensation is subject to the policy’s terms and conditions and the circumstances covered under the scheme.
Who can opt for Indian Railways travel insurance?
The optional insurance facility applies to passengers holding confirmed, Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) and partially confirmed reserved tickets.
Unreserved and general tickets are excluded from the scheme. Children below five years of age travelling without a separate seat or berth are also not eligible.
The extension is intended to make optional travel insurance accessible to more railway passengers, including those who purchase reserved tickets directly at railway reservation counters rather than through online platforms.
