IRCTC to offer baggage insurance for train passengers

Aiming at providing passengers more facilities for booking tickets online, IRCTC is planning to offer a new service of 'baggage insurance' for them. Under this, a customer will be offered additional services like insurance coverage for baggage while booking e-tickets on the IRCTC website.

As per the offer, the passenger can claim the insurance money in case of lost or theft of the baggage. The goods like laptop, mobile phone or any other valuable articles will be covered as part of the travel insurance package.

The tie-up is being formalised with New India Assurance with the details being worked out. "We are formalising a tie-up with a leading insurance company for offering baggage insurance service to e-ticket customers," said a senior IRCTC official, adding that "a customer will be given an option to avail the insurance coverage, which will not be mandatory".

The insurance premium will depend on the length of the journey and also the class of travel. "We are trying to make the offer as the best travel insurance services for train passengers by including other options like hospitalisation during the journey," he said. With over 2 million passengers travelling everyday and about 52 per cent opting for e-ticketing, IRCTC hopes that a significant section of passengers will opt for the insurance service. "It will be a win-win situation for both the customers and IRCTC," he added.

Besides, the passengers are now offered e-catering and concierge services while booking tickets on certain trains and routes. "We are expanding the e-catering facility to more trains as many reputed eatery or joints have also joined the e-catering list," the official said. In order to facilitate last mile connectivity to tourists and passengers, the IRCTC has launched concierge services at certain selected stations in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata on a pilot basis.

The service aims to facilitate train passengers at the station in hiring a porter, getting information regarding running status of the trains, and arranging a taxi for dropping the passenger to his residence or hotel. The concierge service will be provided at all major stations including tourist destinations on railways network.