IRCTC offers Rs 10 lakh insurance cover for passengers

NEW DELHI: Starting September, passengers booking tickets through the IRCTC website can avail of a travel accident cover for a premium as low as Re 1 for an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh. The insurance cover is besides the compensation given by the Railways in case of accidents to valid ticket holders. The insurance would provide coverage against death, injury and disabilities caused due to accidents, IRCTC Chairman-cum-Managing Director AK Manocha said. "At the moment, the insurance offer is under integration process and we expect it will be operationalised from September," he said. He said compensation would be also provided by the insurance company in case of hospitalisation due to train accidents. "We have selected three insurers - Shriram General, Royal Sundaram and ICICI Lombard - which will provide the cover. A total of 19 insurance companies were short-listed for the contract," Manocha said. These three were selected through the bidding process, he said. However, it is the passengers' choice to opt for the insurance as it is a voluntary offer, he clarified. About 5 lakh tickets are at present booked online through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.