1 crore passengers opted rail insurance in 1st month

Around one crore train passengers have opted for the rail insurance scheme, which was announced on September 1, within the first 30 days of its launch, IRCTC said on Friday.

“The optional insurance scheme has elicited an extremely favourable response from the rail passengers. In less than a month, the passenger-friendly measure has been opted for by around one crore passengers till Thursday (September 29),” IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director AK Manocha said today.

The pioneering facility, which was announced in the Railway Budget 2016-17, allows a 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, up to Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses and Rs 10,000 for transportation of mortal remains 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 trains.

The facility is available for all railways passengers who book the e-ticket, excluding sub-urban trains, through the IRCTC’s website, irrespective of the class of the ticket.

The insurance cover is uniform for all classes and the option available through a checkbox at the time of e-ticket booking. The premium amount is automatically added to the ticket fare if the passenger opts for insurance. After the ticket booking and payment of premium, a message shall be 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 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.

The scheme is being implemented by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Royal Sundaram and Shriram General.