NEW DELHI: From Tuesday (Oct 27), all railway passengers buying reserved tickets from reservation counters can opt for travel insurance. At present, optional travel insurance facility is available only for reserved tickets bought online.The insurance premium is only 45 paise per passenger, including taxes, with coverage of Rs 10 lakh in case of death and permanent total disability in a train accident.The scheme has provision for payment of Rs 7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability and up to Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses arising from injuries, as well as Rs 10,000 towards transportation of mortal remains of deceased passengers. The Railway Board has directed all its zones to implement the facility.It said, “Where a passenger opts for insurance, the applicable premium shall be collected along with the ticket fare through digital means only. Staff shall ensure that where the person is opting for insurance, payment is done through digital means.”Reservation staff will inform passengers about the availability of the optional insurance facility and facilitate the exercise of their choice.The board said reservation staff will ensure that the mobile number (mandatory) along with other requisite passenger particulars are captured accurately so as to facilitate transmission of relevant details to the insurance firm for issuance of the policy. Passengers opting for insurance shall be informed that the policy details will be communicated to their registered mobile number.It covers specified railway accidents and untoward incidents, including train collisions, derailments, violent attacks, robbery, arson and accidental falls from trains. Coverage extends to diverted routes and alternative transport arranged by the railways in certain cases of train diversion or short termination.
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Normal second class or general class passengers are not covered under the insurance policy. It is also not applicable to children below the age of 5 years for whom tickets are issued without a berth or seat. But it is applicable to children in 5-11 age group who have reservation with berth or without berth.
