SC Orders Railway Insurance Coverage Extended to Offline Ticket Buyers

The Supreme Court has mandated that Indian Railways extend insurance coverage to passengers buying tickets through offline channels, effective October 27. Currently, only passengers purchasing tickets through online platforms receive automatic accident insurance protection upon payment of a nominal additional fee.

The directive addresses a disparity in insurance accessibility between online and offline ticket purchasers. While digital ticket buyers have been extended this benefit for some time, those obtaining tickets through railway counters have remained excluded from similar coverage.

The insurance scheme provides financial protection to passengers in case of accidents during rail travel. By extending this benefit to all ticket purchase methods, the Railways will ensure uniform protection regardless of whether passengers opt for the convenience of online booking or traditional counter purchases.

This Supreme Court order reflects growing judicial attention to consumer protection and equitable service delivery in public transportation. The implementation deadline of October 27 provides Railways with sufficient time to integrate the insurance requirement across all ticketing systems and train counter staff on the new mandatory protocol.

The move is expected to significantly expand the number of insured railway passengers and strengthen the safety net for daily commuters and long-distance travelers across the country.