Insurance cover for railway passengers 

An Optional Travel Insurance Scheme on a pilot basis for one year is in force since September 1 for the railway passengers who book e-ticket through official website of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Under the scheme reserved passengers who expire or are disabled permanently or partially in the event of death or injury from a place of a train accident or an untoward incident, including terrorist attack, dacoity, rioting, shootout or arson, as well as for short termination, diverted route and Vikalp. The objective of the scheme is to maximise compensation to the passengers for the loss caused to them by train accident and untoward incidents.

The amounts of compensation to be given to passengers are as follows: (i) In case of Death- Rs 10 lakh; Permanent Total Disability – Rs 10 lakh; Permanent Partial Disability – Rs 7.5 lakh; Hospitalisation expenses for injury – Rs 2 lakh; & Transportation of mortal remains – Rs 10,000. The insurance cover will cover all reserved classes (SL, 1AC, 2AC, 3AC) and trains except passenger trains & Sub-Urban trains for tickets booked online on the IRCTC website. Personal belongings are not covered under the said scheme.

A person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website will be able opt for travel insurance cover for a premium of 92 paise only. The cover will not be applicable for children up to 5 years of age and foreign citizens. It will be for passengers holding tickets such as confirmed, RAC and wait-listed ones. However, no refund of the premium will be given in case of cancellation of the ticket.

Around one crore train passengers have opted for the scheme within the first 30 days of its launch. Users wanting coverage for children below five years of age have to furnish details of the child at the time of booking and accordingly travel insurance premium is added to the total amount payable.

The coverage is valid from the actual departure of train from the originating station to actual arrival of train at the destination station, including the boarding and alighting process. Post-accidental medical treatment and transportation of mortal remains are also provisioned for all insured under the scheme.