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Mandatory Train Travel Insurance From October 27
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News18•17-10-2026, 19:03
Mandatory Train Travel Insurance From October 27
- •The Supreme Court has ordered that travel insurance will be made mandatory for all Indian Railways tickets starting October 27.
- •Passengers booking tickets online through IRCTC and those purchasing at station counters will now be covered under the insurance.
- •The bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan issued this order during a hearing regarding passenger safety after the Odisha train accident.
- •The Railway Board will be held directly responsible if this mandatory order is not implemented properly.
- •Currently, online tickets offer up to Rs 10 lakh in insurance coverage for death or permanent total disability, and similar benefits are expected to extend to offline tickets.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court has ordered that travel insurance will become mandatory for all Indian Railways tickets starting October 27. This includes tickets booked online through IRCTC as well as those purchased at station counters.
The order arose during the hearing of a petition concerning train passenger safety following the severe train accident in Odisha in June 2023. The court noted that bringing counter-purchased tickets under insurance eliminates the disparity between online and offline passengers.
Passengers booking online have previously obtained optional travel insurance for a mere 45 paisa premium including taxes. In the event of death or permanent total disability, the insurance scheme provides a maximum coverage of up to Rs. 10 lakh.
