Railway PRS counter ticket buyers to get optional travel insurance up to Rs 10 lakh from October 27

From October 27, 2026, Indian Railways will extend its Optional Travel Insurance Scheme (OTIS) to passengers who book reserved tickets at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters across the network. Until now, the facility was available only to passengers who booked e-tickets through IRCTC. Eligible passengers buying tickets at railway reservation counters will now be covered too.

Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, issued a press release on Sunday. According to it, the insurance will remain optional. Passengers who want cover must choose the scheme, give a mobile number and pay the premium digitally. The premium will be collected along with the ticket fare, and digital payment is mandatory for it.

The premium, inclusive of all taxes, is 45 paise per passenger. The scheme is only for Indian citizens, and the ticket status at the time of booking must be confirmed, RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) or partially confirmed. If insurance is chosen, all eligible passengers booked on a single PNR will be covered.

Children under five whose tickets carry no berth or seat are not covered. Children aged five to 11 are eligible for insurance, whether or not they are allotted a berth or seat.

Under the scheme, eligible passengers will receive insurance benefits in the event of a covered train accident or untoward incident, subject to policy terms. Death or permanent total disability will bring Rs 10 lakh. Permanent partial disability will bring up to Rs 7.5 lakh, and up to Rs 2 lakh will be paid for hospital expenses for treatment of injuries. A further Rs 10,000 will be paid for transporting the body, also subject to applicable conditions.

The reservation requisition form has been changed to introduce the facility. Passengers will now be able to state on it whether they want travel insurance. The new form will be available at all PRS centres of Western Railway.

Announcements will also be made at the centres so that passengers learn about the facility, digital payment and the need for a mobile number. Reservation staff will explain the insurance option and the prescribed procedure to passengers.

Policy details will be sent to the passenger's registered mobile number. After booking, passengers will have to fill in nominee details on the website of the insurance company concerned, through a link they are given.

A death claim will be settled with the declared nominee. If no nominee is registered, the claim will be paid to the legal heirs on the basis of a legal heir or succession certificate.

The existing terms of the Optional Travel Insurance Scheme will apply to PRS counter bookings. Issuing the policy and settling claims will be the responsibility of the insurance company concerned. Passengers who want the facility have been advised to state their choice clearly on the revised reservation requisition form.