Delhi, 24 September (H.S.): Bringing festive cheer ahead of Durga Puja and Dussehra, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible railway employees. The decision will benefit more than 10.91 lakh non-gazetted staff across Indian Railways, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 1,865.68 crore.

Each employee is entitled to a maximum PLB amount of Rs. 17,951, which will be disbursed to categories including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff, and other Group ‘C’ employees.

Recognising Railways’ Performance

The Cabinet noted that the move is in recognition of the “excellent performance” demonstrated by railway staff during fiscal 2024-25. Indian Railways recorded an all-time high cargo loading of 1,614.90 million tonnes and facilitated the movement of nearly 7.3 billion passengers, demonstrating both operational efficiency and its role as the backbone of the national transport system.The annual PLB acts as an incentive to motivate the workforce for improved operational output and customer service.

Officials highlighted that timely payment before major festivals has been a long-standing practice, fostering morale among railway employees.

The bonus payout is expected to further improve employee engagement and encourage efficiency gains within one of the world’s largest railway networks. With over 10 lakh railwaymen receiving the incentive, the Cabinet asserted that the decision reflects the government’s recognition of the workforce’s critical role in supporting economic growth, freight movement, and affordable passenger mobility.

“By acknowledging this remarkable performance, the government continues to underline the central role of railway employees in nation-building,” an official statement said.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar