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The Railway Administration has taken a historic and much awaited welfare step for crores of common passengers traveling daily by Indian Railways. Till now, only the passengers who book e-tickets online through the official website or mobile app of IRCTC have to pay the fare during ticket booking. 45 paise (0.45 rupees) Optional travel insurance option up to ₹ 10 lakh was available at a nominal premium of Rs. Passengers purchasing paper tickets from railway station reservation counters (PRS Counters) were deprived of this important social security cover. Putting an end to this discrimination, Railways has officially implemented this 45 paise Optional Travel Insurance on reserved tickets purchased from Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across the country from today.
The scheme, being run by Indian Railways in collaboration with authorized insurance companies, aims to provide quick financial support to the passenger and his family in the event of any unexpected train accident or untoward incident (terrorist attack, robbery, riot or derailment). The coverage available for this nominal amount of 45 paise is as follows:
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Accidental Death: In case of unfortunate death in a train accident, to the nominee or legal heir of the deceased passenger. ₹10,00,000 (10 lakh rupees) A lump sum insurance claim of Rs.
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Permanent Total Disability: In case the injured passenger loses both hands, both legs, both eyes or becomes completely disabled due to an accident, ₹10,00,000 (10 lakh rupees) The entire sum insured is paid.
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Permanent Partial Disability: In case of partial permanent disability like loss of vision in one eye, severe damage to one arm or one leg ₹7,50,000 (Rs 7.5 lakh) Compensation up to Rs.
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Hospitalization Expenses: For hospitalization and treatment in case of serious injury ₹2,00,000 (two lakh rupees) Cashless or reimbursed medical coverage up to Rs.
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Transportation of Mortal Remains: Additional financial assistance of up to ₹ 10,000 is also included in this policy for transporting the mortal remains of the deceased from the accident site to his hometown.
Taking advantage of this facility while booking tickets from the railway station counter has been made very easy and transparent:
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Tick in the reservation form: The reservation form available at the counter now has ‘Do you want to opt for travel insurance?’ Explicit column ‘(Do you want to opt for Travel Insurance?)’ has been added. The passenger will have to tick ‘Yes’ there.
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Mobile Number Mandatory: It will be mandatory to enter your correct and current mobile number in the form while booking the ticket, as the direct link of the insurance policy and the unique policy number will be sent to the same mobile through SMS.
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Fee will be recorded on the ticket: As soon as the ticket is printed, an additional charge of only 45 paise per passenger will be added and ‘Travel Insurance Opted’ will be clearly printed on the ticket.
As important as it is to take insurance, filling the nominee details is equally important. If the name of the nominee is not registered, then the family members have to face huge difficulties in getting the legal succession certificate made at the time of claim in future.
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Within a few minutes of the ticket being collected from the counter, an SMS will be received on the passenger’s registered mobile number from the respective insurance company (e.g. SBI General, Liberty General or ICICI Lombard).
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A secure web link (URL) and policy number will be given in that SMS.
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By clicking on the link, the passenger will have to go to the portal of the insurance company and login there through his/her PNR and mobile number, enter the name, relation and age of his/her nominee and submit. This process can be completed at any time before the journey begins.
The rules of railway travel insurance are very clear:
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Travel period limit: This insurance is effective from the time the passenger boards the train at his boarding station till he disembarks at the destination station (or till the scheduled time of disembarkation from the train).
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Applicable to which accidents: This applies only to bodily injury caused by railway accidents, train collision, derailment, terrorist incidents or violent disturbance within the train as defined under Sections 123 and 124 of the Railways Act, 1989.
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When will the claim not be received: Accidents occurring while traveling on the roof or footboard of a moving train, traveling without a ticket, suicide or self-inflicted injury, falling from the train while intoxicated or while crossing railway tracks are not covered under this policy. Apart from this, children below 5 years of age who have not purchased a separate ticket are not covered under this insurance.
Instructions have been given to keep the claim settlement extremely fast and paper formality-free in case of an accident:
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On receiving information about a railway accident, an accident certificate (Railway Accident Certificate) issued by the concerned railway division, original hospital discharge/treatment bill or death certificate is required.
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The claimant (nominee) has to register the claim with the PNR number by visiting the toll-free number or website of the concerned insurance company.
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The insurance company is required to transfer the claim amount directly to the nominee’s verified bank account through NEFT within 15 working days of submission of all required documents. For passengers buying tickets from the station counter, this investment of 45 paise will prove to be a boon for the financial security of their families.