Supreme Court Orders Indian Railways to Extend Insurance on Counter Tickets

The Supreme Court has issued a directive to Indian Railways to extend insurance coverage to passengers buying tickets at railway station counters, marking an expansion of a facility previously limited to online bookings.

According to the court's order, the railway administration must implement concrete measures to make insurance options available at ticket counters by October 27. The move aims to provide equal protection and benefits to all categories of rail passengers, regardless of their ticket purchase method.

Presently, only passengers who book tickets online through the Indian Railways website and mobile applications can opt for travel insurance by paying a nominal additional premium. This insurance typically covers accidental death, disability, and hospitalization expenses during train journeys.

The Supreme Court's intervention seeks to bridge the gap in insurance accessibility and ensure that counter ticket buyers—often comprising older passengers, those without digital access, or those preferring in-person transactions—are not excluded from this protective coverage.

Railways authorities are expected to coordinate with insurance providers to establish a streamlined process for offering insurance at ticket counters across major and smaller stations nationwide within the stipulated timeframe.