Railway employees rejoice: Strong increase in kilometer allowance, huge arrears of 2 years will be available from January 1, 2024

By Samira Vishwas On Mar 20, 2026

Railway Running Staff KMA Hike: The Railway Ministry has issued an important order on Friday, March 20, 2026, announcing a major increase in the Kilometerage Allowance (KMA) for the running staff of the Railways. This decision has been taken after the Dearness Allowance (DA) becomes 50 percent and it will be considered effective from January 1, 2024. With this decision, employees like loco pilots and guards will also get the outstanding arrears of the last two years in their bank accounts.

Who will benefit?

The direct benefit of this new increase will be given to those employees who are directly involved in train operation or running duty. It includes Loco Pilot, Assistant Loco Pilot, Shunting Staff and Brakesman along with Guard (Train Manager) of mail, passenger and goods trains. According to All India Railwaymen’s Federation, it is expected that the employees will get the increased amount from the month of April itself.

New rates of allowance

According to the new rates released by the ministry, loco pilots of mail and express trains will now get Rs 606 per 100 kilometers. This rate has been fixed at Rs 600 for loco pilots of passenger trains and Rs 594 for pilots of goods trains. Assistant Loco Pilot will now get Rs 430 per 100 km, while the rate for Shutting Grade-1 has been fixed at Rs 461.

Good News
Comrades,
The order that the running staff across the country was waiting for is now a reality. Finally, orders have been issued to increase the KMA allowance of running staff along with 50% DA increase.
It is a matter of pride and satisfaction for all of us that this legitimate demand that has been raised for a long time finally gets approved… pic.twitter.com/E28X6fOHP4
— Shiva Gopal Mishra (@ShivaGopalMish1) March 20, 2026

traffic staff rates

New rates have also been issued for traffic running staff i.e. guards, in which mail or express guards will get Rs 549 per 100 km. The new rate for Senior Passenger and Goods Guard is Rs 543, while Ordinary Goods Guard will get Rs 537 per 100 km. The new rate for Assistant Guard has been fixed at Rs 305 per 100 km, which will lead to a jump in their monthly salary.

Big impact on salary

If we understand the mathematics of salary, then if the basic salary of a guard is Rs 40,000, then he can earn a lot of extra through KMA. For example, on a journey of 411 km from Nizamuddin to Jhansi, a mail guard will get an additional allowance of about Rs 2196. If he does duty for 24 days in a month, then in addition to his salary, he will be paid approximately Rs 52,704 as KMA.

Why is KMA important?

This special allowance is given to Railway Running Staff because they work in tough conditions and irregular duty over long distances. Since these employees are constantly on the go, they do not get the facility of Normal Daily Allowance (TA/DA). To compensate for this, they are paid per kilometer traveled which also includes a minimum guarantee.

Also read: KDMC’s budget of Rs 3,186 crore presented, focus on roads, metro, hospital and civic facilities, bond of Rs 200 crore will be issued.

morale will increase

Kilometer allowance is a huge part of the income of the running staff and increasing it will definitely boost the morale of the employees. Now, the more distance the employees travel, their total monthly earnings will continue to increase in the same proportion. This huge amount coming with the arrears is a gift to the employees before the implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission.