SC Makes Insurance Must For All Train Tickets From Oct 27, Pg22

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court has mandated insurance coverage for all train tickets, including those purchased over the counter, effective from October 27, 2026.
• The Railway Board will be held directly responsible for the mandatory implementation of this directive.
• This directive stems from a plea filed in the wake of the June 2023 Odisha train accident, which highlighted concerns over passenger safety and the non-implementation of the Kavach safety system.
• The Court expressed strong displeasure at the Ministry of Railways for the lack of progress in implementing safety measures and underutilization of budgetary allocations.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Ansanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan, expanded the scope of the plea to address broader passenger safety issues, including railway foot over bridges and track fencing.
• The Court noted that despite assurances from the Railways, substantial changes on the ground regarding safety had not occurred, and budgetary provisions for targeted safety areas remained largely unutilized.
• Currently, travel insurance is an optional facility available only for online ticket purchases, typically at a nominal additional amount.
• The Odisha train accident on June 2, 2023, involved a collision of three trains in Balasore district, resulting in significant casualties and prompting calls for enhanced safety measures.
• The Kavach system, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, is designed to prevent collisions and ensure adherence to signal and speed limits.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Kavach: An indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent train collisions, signal passing at danger (SPAD), and control train speed.
• Railway Board: The apex body of Indian Railways, responsible for policy formulation, financial management, operational efficiency, safety, and security under the Ministry of Railways.
• Odisha train accident: A major railway accident that occurred on June 2, 2023, in Balasore, Odisha, involving three trains, which led to significant loss of life and renewed focus on railway safety.