Railway Staff Get a Festive Boost as Cabinet Clears 78-Day Bonus Worth ₹2,009.61 Crore

New Delhi: Lakhs of railway families will have extra reason to celebrate this festive season. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible railway employees. The total outgo is ₹2,009.61 crore, and 11,40,770 employees will benefit.

The government said the decision recognises the strong performance of the railway workforce. As in earlier years, the bonus will be paid before the Durga Puja and Dussehra holidays. It applies to non-gazetted railway employees, about 11.40 lakh in number.

Under the approval, an eligible employee can receive a maximum of ₹17,951 for 78 days. The bonus will go to a wide range of staff, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians, technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group ‘C’ employees.

Officials say the annual payment works as an incentive, encouraging railway personnel to keep improving the national transporter’s operational performance and efficiency.

The Cabinet’s decision follows a strong year for the Railways. In 2025-26, it loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo, underlining its role as the backbone of freight movement in the country. It also carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers during the year, reflecting the scale of its operations across the nation.

The workforce behind these figures includes the frontline and support staff who keep trains running every day. Track maintainers, loco pilots, guards, station masters, technicians and others work around the clock to ensure safe and timely services for passengers and freight customers alike.

Payment of the bonus before the major festive holidays has become an annual practice, giving employees additional financial support when household spending typically rises. With the Cabinet’s nod, the Railways can now proceed with disbursing the amount to eligible staff.

The announcement is expected to be widely welcomed by railway employees and their families, who will receive the benefit in time for the celebrations.