Railway ticket insurance will be mandatory for all tickets purchased at railway station counters from October 27, following a direction issued by the Supreme Court, according to a report by Prajavani. The measure is linked to safety proceedings arising from the train accident in Odisha in June 2023.
The direction was issued by a bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan while hearing a petition concerning safety measures after the Odisha train accident. The report did not specify the value of the insurance cover, the premium payable by passengers or the process through which the coverage will be activated at station counters.
The requirement will apply to tickets bought directly at railway reservation and booking counters. The report did not state whether the direction would change the existing arrangements for tickets purchased through online platforms, nor did it provide details of the categories of incidents or passengers covered by the insurance.
The Supreme Court proceedings follow the June 2023 train accident in Odisha, which brought renewed attention to railway safety and passenger protection. The report identifies the petition before the court as part of the broader proceedings on safety measures after the accident, but does not provide details of the petitioners, the accident-related claims or any additional directions issued by the bench.
For passengers who purchase tickets at station counters, the order introduces an additional protection requirement at the point of booking. However, the practical impact will depend on how the railways and the insurance provider communicate the terms of the cover, collect any applicable charge and process claims. Those operational details were not included in the report.
The distinction between counter bookings and other forms of ticket purchase will also be important for implementation. Railway passengers use station counters alongside online booking systems and other authorised channels, but the supplied report specifically refers to tickets bought at railway station counters. It does not establish whether the new mandate will later be extended to other booking channels.
The direction comes into force from October 27, one day after the report was published. The Indian Railways is expected to implement the mandatory insurance arrangement at station counters from that date, although the report does not specify a separate implementation notification, insurer or passenger grievance mechanism.
