Railways to extend optional travel insurance to counter bookings from Oct. 27

Passengers booking reserved 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 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 digital mode.

The existing terms and conditions applicable to OTIS coverage for e-ticket bookings will also apply to tickets booked through PRS counters. The Railway Board has instructed Principal Chief Commercial Managers of all zonal railways to ensure that the guidelines are implemented across reservation centres.

The scheme is available only to Indian citizens and can be availed only at the time of booking reserved tickets. Once the insurance option is selected, all passengers travelling under the same PNR will be covered. The premium has been fixed at 45 paise per passenger, inclusive of all taxes.

Passengers opting 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 insurance provides coverage for death, disability, hospitalisation expenses arising from injuries, and transportation of mortal remains in the event of a railway accident or other untoward incident. The compensation ranges from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh, depending on the nature of the claim.

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, irrespective of whether a berth has been reserved.

The required system development and integration work for implementing the facility is being carried out by the Centre for Railway Information Systems in coordination with IRCTC.