Railway counter ticket buyers to get travel insurance, new system to roll out from October 27

The Indian Railways is now extending travel insurance coverage to counter-issued tickets. | Image Credit: AI-generated by Gemini

For all train passengers who prefer buying tickets at railway counters, a new insurance policy has been introduced for you. Starting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, train passengers will be able to get travel insurance with their tickets bought at the on-ground ticket counter.

Until now, this facility was only available to passengers who booked tickets online. Under this new system, passengers who buy tickets at railway reservation counters will also be able to opt for travel insurance. Let's dive in to find out more about the travel insurance for Railway counter ticket buyers here.

Railway Board orders travel insurance on counter tickets

A Supreme Court bench has directed Indian Railways to extend travel insurance coverage to counter-issued tickets. All zonal railways will be offering travel insurance on tickets bought at counters. The court has fixed October 27, 2026, as the implementation deadline for this. They have even made the Railway Board directly responsible for ensuring compliance.

The Railway Board has asked the zonal railways to complete all preparations so that the new system can start from October 27, 2026.

Railway travel insurance premium: Just 45 paise per passenger

Taking travel insurance will be optional. This means passengers can choose whether they want it or not. No one will be forced to buy it with their ticket. Passengers who want the insurance will have to pay a separate premium for it. A premium is the small amount of money paid to get insurance cover.

Under the existing IRCTC online travel insurance scheme, passengers pay a premium of just Rs 0.45 per passenger. That is less than half a rupee for each person travelling.

Train accident insurance cover: How much passengers can get

For this small amount, passengers get cover if something goes wrong during a train accident. Here is what the insurance covers:

* Death or permanent total disability: In cases of permanent total disability, which is when a person is left fully and permanently disabled after the accident, a cover of up to Rs 10 lakh will be given.

* Permanent partial disability: For cases where a person is left partly disabled for life, the insurance will cover up to Rs 7.5 lakh.

* Injury and hospital treatment: Cover of up to Rs 2 lakh for treatment in a hospital if a passenger is injured in the accident.

This means that at the current online rate of 45 paise, a passenger and their family can get financial support of up to Rs 10 lakh in case of a serious train accident.

How to get travel insurance at a railway counter

To take travel insurance at the counter, passengers will need a mobile number. Arrangements are also being made for digital payment of the premium. So, passengers who want the insurance should carry their mobile phone and be ready to pay digitally when buying their ticket at the counter.

Why Indian Railways is making this change

The new system is being brought in to follow the directions of the Supreme Court. A SC bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan has directed Indian Railways to extend travel insurance to those buying tickets from counters. In line with these directions, the Railway Board has asked all zonal railways to finish their preparations before October 27, 2026.

With this travel insurance, both online and counter ticket buyers will be able to keep themselves protected while travelling by train.