The Union Cabinet has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) of Rs 1,866 crore for railway employees. Around 10.9 lakh workers will benefit. Each eligible employee will get 78 days of wages, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The PLB is usually paid before Durga Puja and Dussehra. Last year, 11.72 lakh employees received a higher bonus of Rs 2,029 crore. For 2024-25, the maximum an employee can receive is Rs 17,951. The bonus covers track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians, helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff, and other Group ‘C’ workers.
Indian Railways achieved strong results in 2024-25. It moved a record 1,614.9 million tonnes of freight and carried nearly 7.3 billion passengers.
The Cabinet timed the bonus ahead of the festival season, as GST cuts boost consumer demand. The payout is expected to increase household spending, benefiting retailers and businesses, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
The decision rewards the hard work of railway employees and reflects the Railways’ solid operational performance.
