Kilometrage allowance is paid to running staff for the distance actually worked. The rate depends on your category and on the type of link you work, so a Loco Pilot on mail and express duty is paid more per kilometre than an ALP. The table below lists the rate for every category.
Calculate your allowanceCurrent DA rate
Kilometre allowance rates by category
Rates are per 100 kilometres, which is how the circular states them. The per-kilometre column is the same figure divided by 100 — both give the same result.
| Category | Old (per 100 km) | New (per 100 km) | Per km | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LP (Mail / Express) | ₹530 | ₹606 | ₹6.06 | +14.3% |
| LP (Passenger) / M-Man | ₹525 | ₹600 | ₹6 | +14.3% |
| LP (Goods) | ₹520 | ₹594 | ₹5.94 | +14.2% |
| LP (Shunter-I) | ₹403 | ₹461 | ₹4.61 | +14.4% |
| LP (Shunter-II) | ₹391 | ₹447 | ₹4.47 | +14.3% |
| Sr. ALP | ₹391 | ₹447 | ₹4.47 | +14.3% |
| ALP | ₹376 | ₹430 | ₹4.3 | +14.4% |
| Guard (Mail / Express) | ₹480 | ₹549 | ₹5.49 | +14.4% |
| Guard (Sr. Goods) | ₹475 | ₹543 | ₹5.43 | +14.3% |
| Guard (Goods) | ₹475 | ₹543 | ₹5.43 | +14.3% |
| Sr. Asst. Guard | ₹470 | ₹537 | ₹5.37 | +14.3% |
Two pairs share a rate: LP (Shunter-II) and Sr. ALP are both on ₹447, and Guard (Sr. Goods) and Guard (Goods) are both on ₹543.
How the allowance is calculated
Allowance = (Kilometres ÷ 100) × Rate per 100 km4,000 ÷ 100 = 40 → 40 × 543 = ₹21,720.
Because the allowance moves with the distance you actually work, it varies month to month. Keeping an accurate record of the kilometres on each duty is the only way to check that what you were paid is right — that is what the running journal in the app is for.
What kilometre allowance is not
Kilometre allowance is separate from the 30% pay element that running staff get on basic pay. The pay element is what raises the figure that DA, overtime and night duty allowance are calculated on. Kilometre allowance sits on top of all of that and is based purely on distance.
Common questions
What is kilometre allowance in railways?
Kilometrage allowance, often called KMA or running allowance, is paid to running staff for the distance they actually work. It is not a fixed monthly amount — it depends on the kilometres booked in the period. The rate depends on your category, so a Loco Pilot on mail and express duty earns a higher rate per kilometre than an Assistant Loco Pilot.
How is kilometre allowance calculated?
Take the kilometres you worked, divide by 100, and multiply by your category rate. For example, 4,000 kilometres at a rate of 543 rupees per 100 kilometres gives 4,000 divided by 100, which is 40, multiplied by 543 — that is 21,720 rupees. The same result comes from multiplying the kilometres by the per-kilometre rate directly.
What is the kilometre rate for a Goods Guard?
A Guard on goods duty is paid ₹543 per 100 kilometres, which works out to ₹5.43 per kilometre. Guard (Sr. Goods) is paid at the same rate. A Guard on mail or express duty is paid ₹549 per 100 kilometres.
What is the kilometre rate for a Loco Pilot?
It depends on the link. A Loco Pilot on mail or express duty is paid ₹606 per 100 kilometres, on passenger duty ₹600, and on goods duty ₹594. Shunters are paid separately: Shunter-I at ₹461 and Shunter-II at ₹447 per 100 kilometres.
Do Assistant Loco Pilots get kilometre allowance?
Yes. An ALP is paid ₹430 per 100 kilometres and a Sr. ALP ₹447 per 100 kilometres.
Is kilometre allowance taxable?
Running allowance has a partial exemption under the income tax rules, so only part of it is added to taxable salary. The exempt portion is capped, and the rest is taxable. Check the current limit for the assessment year, or use the income tax estimator in the app.
Does kilometre allowance count for other calculations?
Running staff also get a 30% pay element added to basic pay, and that pay element is what feeds into DA, overtime and other elements — not the kilometre allowance itself. Kilometre allowance is paid on top, based purely on distance worked.
Official sources
Rules and rates on this page come from the departments below. Where a figure matters to you, check it against the current order — RailStaff is not the authority for it.
- Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) — kilometrage rates and running allowance rules
- Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance — allowance orders for central government employees
- Income Tax Department — how running allowance is taxed
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