Railways Insurance Scheme Gets Overwhelming Response, Say Officials

The optional travel insurance scheme in the Indian Railways has garnered huge response in less than a months' time, as over one crore passengers opted for it, officials said on Friday. The insurance scheme was launched on September 1 by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). "The optional insurance scheme has elicited an extremely favourable response from the rail passengers," IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director A.K. Manocha said in a statement. "In less than a month, the passenger-friendly measure has been opted for by one crore passengers till Thursday (September 29)," he added.

The facility was also announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17, and it allows a travelling passenger to get an insurance cover of up to Rs. 10 lakh on booking a train ticket online by paying just 92 paise.The scheme offers travellers, or their families, compensation of up to Rs. 10 lakh in the event of death or permanent total disability, Rs. 7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability, and up to Rs. 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses.There is also a provision to pay Rs. 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains in the event of death or injury from a train accident or other "untoward incidents", including terrorist attacks, dacoity, rioting, shoot-out or arson, as well as for short termination, diverted route and Vikalp trains.

According to the IRCTC, the optional insurance scheme facility is available for all passengers who book e-tickets, excluding suburban trains, through its website, irrespective of the class of ticket. Meanwhile, after the ticket is booked and payment of premium, a message is displayed to complete the nomination details, which are necessary to settle the claims on timely basis. 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 scheme covers the passenger from the actual departure of train from the originating station to actual arrival of train at the destination station, including process of entraining and detraining.