Starting October 27, passengers who opt for travel insurance while purchasing rail tickets at counters will be required to pay the total amount—including the insurance premium—via digital modes. The Railway Board stated on Monday that the premium cannot be collected in cash; therefore, it must be paid digitally. Officials explained that since coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 25 paise are no longer legal tender, both the ticket fare and the insurance premium must be paid online.

Insurance Premium to be Paid Digitally

In a letter addressed to all zonal railways, the Railway Board specified that if a passenger opts for travel insurance, the applicable premium must be collected along with the ticket fare exclusively through digital modes. Staff will ensure that whenever a passenger chooses insurance, the payment is processed digitally. While this optional insurance facility was already available to passengers booking tickets online, the Railway Board has now extended it to ticket counters, following a Supreme Court order dated October 6.

CRIS Reports System Updates

Officials from the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) stated that the necessary software modifications are being made to extend this facility to counter-ticket purchasers. A CRIS official confirmed that the required software changes have been implemented, and testing is currently underway. The system will go live tomorrow. The official added that in the event of a ticket cancellation, 9 paise will be deducted from the 45-paise premium amount, in addition to other applicable cancellation charges.

System to Launch on October 27

In a letter dated October 24, 2024, the Railway Board directed that all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters under the respective zonal railways must be fully prepared to offer the insurance facility, in accordance with the functionality integrated into the reservation system, effective October 27. The letter further stated that the development and integration of the system required to implement this scheme are being carried out by CRIS in coordination with IRCTC. Zonal Railways should ensure the necessary preparations at PRS counters, in accordance with the systems and procedures prescribed for this purpose.

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