Railways to offer optional travel insurance at reservation counters from October 27
Passengers booking reserved train tickets at Railway Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters will be able to opt for travel insurance from October 27, with the Railway Board directing all zonal railways to make their reservation counters compliant with the facility.
In a communication issued to zonal railways, the Board said reservation staff must inform passengers about the availability of the Optional Travel Insurance Scheme (OTIS) and facilitate their choice at the time of booking. The insurance cover will be provided only if a passenger opts for the facility, furnishes a mobile number and pays the premium through a digital mode.
The scheme is already available to passengers booking e-tickets, and the existing terms and conditions applicable to that coverage will also apply to tickets booked through PRS counters. The Board has instructed Principal Chief Commercial Managers of all zonal railways to ensure that the guidelines are implemented across reservation centres.
The premium has been fixed at 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of all taxes. The facility is available only to Indian citizens and can be availed only at the time of booking a reserved ticket. Once the insurance option is selected, all passengers travelling under the same PNR will be covered.
Passengers who opt for the scheme will receive policy details directly from the insurance company through SMS and e-mail, along with a link to submit nomination details. The policy number will also be available in the booking history section of the IRCTC portal.
The cover includes death, disability, hospitalisation expenses arising from injuries, and transportation of mortal remains in the event of a railway accident or other untoward incident. Compensation ranges from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh, depending on the nature of the claim.
There are defined limits on who is covered. Children below five years of age travelling without a reserved berth or seat will not be covered under the scheme. However, children aged between five and 11 years will be eligible for insurance if a ticket has been booked for them, irrespective of whether a berth has been reserved.
Because enrolment is voluntary, passengers who do not choose the option, or who are unable to pay the premium digitally at the counter, will not be insured. The Board's instruction places the responsibility on counter staff to explain the option so that passengers can make an informed choice at the time of booking.
The system development and integration work required to implement the facility is being carried out by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) in coordination with IRCTC. The rollout will depend on reservation centres across the network being equipped to record the passenger's choice and process the digital payment.
The extension to counter bookings addresses a gap in the existing scheme, under which passengers buying tickets online could opt for insurance while those purchasing tickets in person at reservation offices could not. The change is intended to bring both categories of reserved-ticket passengers under the same facility.
