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Indian Railways introduces rule change from October 27: Insurance will be available when purchasing tickets at stations
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Aaj Tak
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Indian Railways introduces rule change from October 27: Insurance will be available when purchasing tickets at stations

An important notification has emerged for millions of people who use the services of Indian Railways daily for comfortable and economical travel. A change in the railway ticket booking rule comes into effect on October 27, which is directly related to ensuring passenger safety.

This significant change is being implemented by Indian Railways based on a Supreme Court directive. Passengers can now avail themselves of insurance services even when purchasing tickets through counters at railway stations.

The details of the change in Indian Railways rules are that starting October 27, insurance coverage will be provided when tickets are purchased directly at the counters. Previously, the option to choose travel insurance was only available when booking tickets through the Indian Railways website or mobile application managed by IRCTC.

The decision to change the rules and introduce a new regulation is driven by concern for traveler safety. It was made following a Supreme Court directive after a railway accident occurred in Odisha in June 2023. The court itself issued an order on October 6 of this month, requiring that insurance coverage extend to all tickets bought at railway station ticket offices.

Under the existing optional railway travel insurance program, available during online ticket booking, passengers can receive coverage up to 10 lakh rupees in case of death or permanent total disability. The cost of the online insurance policy is only 45 paise per passenger, including taxes. However, information regarding the premium rate, required documents, and compensation procedures for tickets bought at counters is not yet fully clarified.

The introduction of insurance coverage for tickets bought at counters, similar to that provided for online tickets, is particularly important for passengers who rely on station counters. The Supreme Court's goal is to equate offline booking with online booking, ensuring that passengers who do not use digital platforms are not left without insurance protection.

The Supreme Court also warned Indian Railways that the Railway Board itself would bear responsibility if this directive is not complied with.

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Indian Railways allows taking a break during a journey using a single ticket
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Indian Railways allows taking a break during a journey using a single ticket

According to Indian Railways rules, a passenger can stop their journey at an intermediate station and resume it later using the original ticket, eliminating the need to purchase additional tickets.

The system that allows this is called 'Break of Journey'. This means the traveler stops at a specific station during the trip and continues the further route according to established conditions. No second ticket purchase is required, and everything is processed under one document.

However, this option is not available for all tickets and all trains; several conditions set by the railway must be met to use it.

This possibility is provided for journeys exceeding 500 kilometers. Furthermore, the first stop can only occur after covering a distance of 500 kilometers. For example, on an 800-kilometer journey, a break can be taken after passing 501 kilometers.

If the total route length is up to 1000 kilometers, the passenger is entitled to one break. In this case, they can alight at an intermediate station, such as Lucknow, and board the next train heading to the final destination, such as Gorupur, within one day.

For journeys exceeding 1000 kilometers, up to two breaks are permitted. In such cases, the passenger can leave the station twice and then continue the journey on the next train without buying new tickets. To do this, they must obtain the appropriate endorsement on the ticket from the station manager or an authorized railway employee at the stopping point.

Consider an example: if a passenger buys a ticket for a 600-kilometer journey and wishes to stop at a station after covering 501 kilometers, they can take a break for up to two days while adhering to railway rules.

The reverse situation shows that if a passenger buys a ticket for 800 kilometers but wants to stop after only 423 kilometers, this break will not be permitted under this rule. Thus, merely having a long ticket is insufficient; the conditions of stay and other requirements are also important.

According to railway rules, this service is unavailable on Rajdhani and Shatabdi, as well as Jana Shatabdi class trains. It is crucial to inform about the intention to take a break during the journey when booking a reserved seat. If a passenger books a seat directly to the final station, a break at an intermediate station under this rule is not allowed.

Additionally, the 'Break of Journey' booking function is unavailable for e-tickets purchased online. Therefore, passengers traveling in compartments or air-conditioned coaches should understand that simply stopping en route does not guarantee the retention of their previous seat; they will be allowed to remain on the train, but there is no seat guarantee.

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