New Delhi, Sept 24 (UNI) In a major festive season gesture, the union Cabinet today approved Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible non-gazetted railway employees.
The bonus, amounting to Rs. 1,865.68 crore, will benefit over 10.91 lakh employees ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals, said an official statement here.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the bonus is a recognition of the commendable performance by railway staff in the financial year 2024–25. During the year, Indian Railways achieved record freight loading of 1,614.90 million tonnes and transported nearly 7.3 billion passengers, reflecting improved operational efficiency and service delivery.
The maximum PLB amount per eligible employee has been fixed at Rs. 17,951. The bonus will be paid to various categories of Group ‘C’ employees, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technicians’ helpers, pointsmen, and ministerial staff.
The annual PLB payment is a longstanding tradition, typically made ahead of Durga Puja and Dussehra, and is aimed at motivating employees towards sustained improvement in the Railways’ performance. The officials said the continued payout of PLB underlines the Government’s commitment to reward productivity and morale among frontline railway staff.
This year’s decision is also likely to provide a consumption boost during the festive season, especially in small towns and rural areas where a large section of railway employees reside, said the officials.
