Indian Railways passengers who book reserved tickets at railway station counters are set to receive access to travel insurance under a proposed expansion of the existing scheme. The change is scheduled to take effect from October 27, 2026, extending insurance access beyond passengers who book their tickets online through IRCTC.
The move follows directions from the Supreme Court, which raised concerns about the lack of insurance access for passengers purchasing tickets offline. The change aims to reduce the difference in coverage based on how a passenger books a ticket.
What Does the Railway Travel Insurance Scheme Cover?
Under the existing optional Railway Travel Insurance Scheme, passengers booking tickets online can obtain insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh by paying a premium of 45 paise per passenger.
The policy provides compensation in cases of death or permanent total disability resulting from a railway accident or other covered unforeseen incidents.
Indian Railways is working on the specific arrangements for passengers purchasing tickets at reservation counters. These include the applicable premium, documentation requirements and procedures for submitting insurance claims. The final details will depend on the official guidelines issued by the Railways.
Supreme Court Directs Railways to Expand Insurance Access
The proposed expansion follows a Supreme Court hearing concerning railway safety and insurance coverage. The proceedings were prompted by the deadly train accident in Odisha in June 2023.
During the hearing, Justices Hassanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan expressed concern over delays in extending insurance facilities to passengers who purchase tickets offline, despite earlier assurances from railway officials.
The court directed the Railway Board to implement the system within two weeks, setting October 27 as the deadline. It also warned that the Railway Board could be held directly accountable for failing to comply with the directions.
Who Will Benefit From the Insurance Change?
The proposed expansion is particularly relevant for passengers who prefer purchasing reserved tickets directly from railway station counters instead of using online booking platforms.
People with limited access to digital services may benefit from the availability of insurance through offline booking channels. Extending the facility to counter bookings would help provide passengers with access to similar protection regardless of their booking method.
However, passengers should wait for the official Railway Board guidelines to confirm the premium, eligibility conditions and process for obtaining coverage when purchasing tickets at reservation counters.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on the details provided in the source material. The implementation date, insurance coverage, premium and claim procedures should be verified through official Indian Railways and Railway Board announcements. Passengers should review the applicable policy terms and conditions before relying on the insurance facility.