The Supreme Court of India has directed Indian Railways to extend railway insurance coverage to passengers who buy physical tickets from the counter of the station. This particular mandate will come into effect from the 27th of October and was passed by the bench consisting of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan. They issued the order after examining railway safety measures following the 2023 train accidents. Here are all of the other details you would need to know about this update.
Railway Insurance Mandated For Physical Tickets
As of now, the current insurance scheme offered by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) does not cover passengers who purchase physical tickets offline over counters. As such, the bench directed this change and held the Railway Board directly accountable for executing the framework within the strict deadline.
The exact implementation details and documentation processes for physical station counters are being finalized by the Railway Board. Nevertheless, this particular update brings millions of daily offline commuters under the same safety net as the other online IRCTC e-ticket holders.
As of now, the current baseline coverage benefits include death compensation of INR 10 lakh, permanent total disability compensation of INR 10 lakh, permanent partial disability compensation of INR 7.5 lakh, INR 2 lakh compensation for hospitalization expenses for injuries, and transportation of mortal remains compensation of INR 10,000.
Other Eligibility Rules And Offline Transition
As of now, this insurance cover applies to citizens of India holding confirmed or Reserved Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets. Unfortunately, though, children under five years of age who can travel without a seat allocation are excluded from the coverage. Children between the ages of five and 11 are covered under specific policy conditions.
Also Read: Indian Railways Extends IRCTC Advance Booking Window For Aadhaar‑Linked Users
Summing Up
So, if you’re traveling after October 27th and plan to buy tickets at the counter, keep this update in mind. When purchasing tickets, also verify whether the insurance premium is included by default or offered as an opt-in prompt at the reservation window.
