Ahead of the 8th Pay Commission, railway employees have received good news. The Railway Ministry has increased the rates of Kilometer Allowance
and its related allowance (ALK). These new rates are effective from January 1, 2024, and mainly benefit railway running staff.
Allowance Revised After DA Reached 50%
This revision was made after the Dearness Allowance (DA) reached 50%. As per rules, when DA hits this level, some allowances are automatically revised.
Because of this, the rates of Kilometer Allowance and ALK have been increased, which will directly raise the income of employees.
New Rates for Loco Pilots and Running Staff
The updated rates now apply to loco pilots and other running staff. For example, a loco pilot running a mail train will now get ₹606 for every 100 kilometers and ₹969 for 160 kilometers.
New rates have also been set for:
Loco pilots
Assistant loco pilots
Shunting staff
Passenger and goods train staff
In addition, traffic running staff like guards have also benefited. Mail express guards, passenger guards, and goods guards will now receive higher allowances than before.
Decision Taken After Employee Demands
This change comes after long-standing demands from railway employee unions. Organizations like the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF)
and the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) had been raising this issue for a long time.
After reviewing the matter, the Railway Board got approval from the Finance Ministry and implemented the new rates.
No Change in Other Rules
The Ministry has clearly stated that only the allowance rates have been revised. All other rules, including eligibility and payment methods, remain the same.
Overall, this decision brings much-needed relief and financial benefit to railway employees.
