Indian railways to extend travel insurance to counter tickets from October 27

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Delhi: Indian Railways will extend its travel insurance facility to reserved tickets purchased at railway reservation counters from October 27, 2026.

The move follows an October 6 directive by the Supreme Court, which ordered the Railways to provide insurance coverage to offline ticket buyers on the same terms as online bookings.

Key Details

• Implementation deadline: The Railway Board has directed all zonal railways to implement the facility by October 27.
• Insurance premium: Passengers opting for coverage will pay 45 paise per ticket, with payment accepted through digital means only.
• Coverage: The existing scheme covers death, permanent disability, partial disability and hospitalisation expenses for injuries arising from eligible railway accidents or untoward incidents.
• Insurance amount: Coverage under the existing policy ranges from ₹2 lakh to ₹10 lakh, depending on the nature of the loss or injury.
• Eligibility: The existing scheme applies to eligible Indian citizens holding confirmed, partially confirmed or RAC reserved tickets, subject to policy conditions.
• Passenger information: Counter staff must record the passenger’s mobile number and other required details accurately. Policy information will be sent to the registered mobile number.

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Previously, the optional travel insurance facility was available to passengers booking tickets online, leaving those purchasing reserved tickets at railway counters without access to the same scheme.

But now the insurance is intended to provide financial protection for eligible incidents and is separate from the Railways’ legal compensation obligations.

General-class passengers remain outside the existing scheme, and travellers should check the applicable policy terms before opting in.

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