Railway counter tickets now get Rs 10 lakh travel insurance for 45 paise

Passengers who buy reserved train tickets at railway reservation counters can now take optional travel insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh for a premium of 45 paise per passenger, the same cover that was earlier available only to those booking e-tickets online, according to reports on the new arrangement that took effect on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The change follows a Supreme Court order that directed the Railways to extend the insurance to counter-sold tickets from that date and warned that the Railway Board would be held responsible for any failure to comply. Passengers choose the option on a revised reservation form, give a mobile number and pay the premium along with the fare.

Until now, the low-cost insurance offered by the Railways was tied to online booking. Passengers who could not or did not book online, often people in rural areas, older travellers and those from poorer households, bought tickets at counters and were left without the option. The Supreme Court pointed to exactly this gap, noting that offline buyers, including those from economically weaker sections, had been excluded from a protection available to others for a tiny sum.

The order came out of a wider case on railway safety that began after the train accident in Odisha in June 2023 and later expanded to cover track fencing, foot overbridges and insurance. In that case, the court has repeatedly criticised the Railways for slow progress on safety measures despite budget provisions, and it warned that the Railway Board would be held directly responsible if the insurance order was not implemented.

For passengers, the practical point is that the cover is optional. It costs less than a rupee, but it has to be chosen on the reservation form at the time of booking. Families travelling together should note that it applies to everyone eligible on the PNR when selected. Those who have bought counter tickets for festival travel in the coming weeks should check whether their ticket includes the cover.

Short-term: Counter passengers can opt for insurance from October 27, just as the festive travel season peaks, provided they choose it on the reservation form.

Long-term: Wider insurance cover means more families get financial support after accidents, and the court's oversight keeps pressure on the Railways to deliver on other safety steps such as fencing and foot overbridges.

Who is affected: Passengers who buy reserved tickets at railway counters, especially in rural areas and from lower-income households; reservation clerks; the insurance companies that provide the cover; and the Railway Board, which must comply with the court's order.

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