Indian Railways (IR) has increased the rates at which allowances -kilometrage allowance (running) and allowance in lieu of kilometrage or ALK (non-running) -are paid to its running staff, that is, loco pilots, guards and firemen.
Kilometrage allowance is payable to running staff at a rate fixed by IR for the number of kilometres they are booked for, in a particular month, for discharging their duties. This is paid over and above the salary and allowances, as per their post in the hierarchy and is based on the number of kilometres logged in a particular month.
The revision takes into effect from January 1, 2024, the date on which dearness allowance increased to 50 per cent of the employee’s basic pay.
Under the revised structure, Loco Running Staff will receive updated kilometrage allowance per 100 km and ALK per 160 km as follows:
Loco Pilot (Mail) ₹606 and ₹969;
Loco Pilot (Passenger)/Sr. Motorman ₹600 and ₹960;
Loco Pilot (Goods) ₹594 and ₹951;
Loco Pilot (Shunting) Gr. I ₹461 and ₹737;
Loco Pilot (Shunting) Gr. II ₹447 and ₹715;
Sr. FM-1, Sr. Assistant Loco Pilot ₹447 (₹287 for shunting) and ₹715;
FM-1, Assistant Loco Pilot ₹430 (₹277 for shunting) and ₹688;
Sr. Second Fireman ₹430 (₹277 for shunting) and ₹688; and
Second Fireman ₹362 (₹216 for shunting) and ₹579.
Similarly, Traffic Running Staff will receive revised rates of kilometrage allowance per 100 km and ALK per 160 km as follows:
Mail/Express Guard ₹549 and ₹878;
Sr. Passenger Guard ₹543 and ₹869;
Sr. Goods Guard ₹543 and ₹869;
Goods Guard ₹537 and ₹859;
Sr. Assistant Guard/Sr. Brakesman ₹320 and ₹512; and
Assistant Guard/Brakesman ₹305 and ₹488. (The post of Guard has been re-designated as Train Manager.)
The revised rates are applicable under the Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016, and all other terms and conditions for admissibility of Kilometrage Allowance and ALK remain unchanged.
An allowance in lieu of kilometrage (ALK) is paid to running staff for the performance of stationary duties such as journeys on transfer, joining time, for attending enquiries or law courts on Railway business, attending departmental inquiries as Defense Counsel or witness, Ambulance classes, volunteer duty in connection with Territorial or other similar Fund and Staff Loans Fund Committees, meeting of Railway Institutes, Welfare and Debt Committees, Staff Benefit Fund and Staff Loan Fund Committees, Staff and Welfare Committees, for attending the meetings of Railway Co-operative Societies in cases where special casual leave is granted for doing so, medical and departmental examinations, participating in recognized athletic contests and tournaments, scouting activities and Lok Sahayak Sena Camp, representing recognized labor organizations, attending periodical meetings with District Officers, Heads of Departments and General Managers, attending First-aid classes, undergoing training in carriage sheds and as worker teacher under the Workers’ Education Scheme attending training schools for refresher and promotion courses, undergoing sterilisation operation under Family Planning Scheme appearing in Hindi Examination Guards booked on escort duty of treasure and other insured parcels on trains, Drivers and Firemen when kept spare for a day or two to enable them to examine and clean the engines thoroughly before being deputed to work special trains for VIPs, or any other duties which may be declared in emergencies as qualifying for an allowance in lieu of kilometrage.
