Understanding Travelling Allowance (TA) for Railway Employees

Introduction

Travelling Allowance (TA) is a vital financial support provided to railway employees when they are required to travel outside their headquarters for official duties. This allowance is designed to reimburse employees for expenses incurred during travel, including transportation, accommodation, meals, and other incidental charges. It ensures that employees do not have to bear the financial burden of undertaking official travel.

What is Travelling Allowance (TA)?

Travelling Allowance, commonly known as TA, is a monetary benefit extended to railway personnel. This allowance is specifically granted when an employee needs to be away from their designated headquarters to perform official duties. The primary purpose of TA is to cover the expenses encountered during such journeys, encompassing travel costs, food, lodging, and various other incidental expenses that arise while working away from the regular workplace.

Types of Travelling Allowance

While “Daily Allowance” is often used interchangeably with TA in common parlance, the Indian Railways categorizes TA into four distinct types based on the nature of duty, location, and duration. These are governed by regulations like IREC/1604.

1. Permanent or Consolidated Travelling Allowance

This type of allowance is granted to railway employees who are frequently required to work outside their headquarters on a regular basis. Approval for this allowance is provided by the General Manager (GM) of the railway zone. To be eligible, an employee must spend more than 20 days a month outside their headquarters on duty. A common example is the fixed monthly allowance given to Ticket Examiners (TTEs). This allowance is intended to compensate for the expenditure of regular travel and should not be used as a means of profit. It is not applicable during leave periods, temporary transfers, or joining leave.

2. Conveyance Allowance

A competent authority may sanction a monthly conveyance allowance to a railway servant under specific conditions. This allowance is provided to employees who have to undertake significant travel within or near their headquarters, which does not qualify them for a daily allowance. It is also payable for days spent on leave. For instance, a doctor travelling to see a patient might receive this allowance. It is a fixed monthly sum calculated based on the average distance travelled during the month and needs to be claimed every month.

3. Mileage Allowance

Mileage Allowance is provided to compensate for travel expenses incurred when undertaking official journeys by road where railway routes are not available. This allowance is paid at a prescribed per-kilometre rate, ensuring reimbursement for the shortest and most economical route taken.

The current rates for Mileage Allowance are:

• Travelling by own car or taxi: ₹30 per kilometer
• Travelling by auto-rickshaw or own scooter/motorcycle: ₹15 per kilometer

4. Daily Allowance

Daily Allowance is intended to cover the costs of food and lodging incurred during duty tours. It is a uniform daily payment provided for each day an employee is away from their headquarters, aimed at offsetting the normal daily expenses. For most railway employees, the travel allowance they receive for being on duty outside their headquarters is this Daily Allowance.

The current rates for Daily Allowance, revised from January 1, 2024 (RBE 51/2024), are as follows:

Note: When Dearness Allowance increases by 50%, these rates are further enhanced by 25%.

TA payable based on duty duration:

Eligibility for TA

All permanent and temporary officers and employees of the railways are eligible for TA if they meet the following criteria:
1. They travel 8 kilometers or more away from their headquarters on official duty.
2. They do not receive any other allowance from the railway for their travel expenses.

Circumstances Under Which TA is Payable

TA is provided under specific conditions to compensate for expenses incurred during official travel.

Calculation of TA

The calculation of TA depends on the duration of absence from headquarters and the pay level of the employee. For instance, if a railway employee (Level-6) travels from Station ABC to the Head Office at Station XYZ, starting at 5 AM and arriving at 9 AM, and then travels by auto-rickshaw to the office, reaching at 9:30 AM. After completing work, they depart from XYZ at 5:00 PM and reach Station ABC at 9:00 PM.

In this scenario, the employee is away from their headquarters for a total of 16 hours. Since this exceeds 12 hours, they are entitled to 100% of the Daily Allowance. If the duty had concluded earlier, say returning by 4 PM, making the total absence 11 hours, the entitlement would be 70% of the Daily Allowance. If the duty spanned two days and involved an overnight stay, the TA for each day would be calculated based on the departure and arrival times from the headquarters on each respective day.

Additionally, the employee would be reimbursed for the auto-rickshaw fare from XYZ station to their office, which is 5 km away, under the Mileage Allowance rules. For example, if travelling by auto-rickshaw, the mileage allowance would be calculated at ₹15 per kilometer for the to-and-fro journey to the office from the station.

Essential Conditions for TA

To be eligible for TA, certain conditions must be met:
* The journey must be undertaken outside the headquarters, covering a distance of 8 km or more.
* The employee must have actually performed the journey.
* The travel must be for an official purpose.

Tips for Filling TA Bills

To ensure a smooth TA claim process, employees should follow these guidelines:
* Submit TA bills promptly, ideally within 60 days of completing the journey.
* Accurately record the departure and arrival times for the journey.
* TA claims can only be made for approved official duties.

Frequently Asked Questions

1️⃣ What is TA?

TA stands for Travelling Allowance, which is a monetary benefit provided to railway employees for undertaking official travel away from their headquarters.

2️⃣ Who is eligible for TA?

Every regular railway employee who performs official duties outside their headquarters is eligible for TA.

3️⃣ Within how many days should a TA bill be submitted?

TA bills should generally be submitted within 60 days of the completion of the journey.

4️⃣ If the journey is less than 6 hours, will TA be given?

Yes, for journeys lasting less than 6 hours but more than a certain minimum duration (as per rules), a portion of the TA (typically 30%) is payable.

5️⃣ When is TA paid?

TA is paid after the bill is submitted and verified by the Accounts Branch, usually along with the employee’s salary.

6️⃣ Do Supervisors and Officers also receive TA?

Yes, TA is provided to all Non-Gazetted and Gazetted employees based on their respective Pay Levels.

7️⃣ What expenses does TA cover?

TA is intended to cover expenses like travel, meals, and lodging incurred during official tours.

8️⃣ Is TA applicable for leave travel?

No, TA is strictly for official duties and is not applicable for personal leave travel.

9️⃣ What is the difference between TA and Transfer TA?

While TA covers regular official tours, Transfer TA is a separate allowance provided specifically to cover the costs associated with relocating during a transfer.

1️⃣0️⃣ How is the TA rate determined?

The TA rate is determined based on the employee’s Pay Level, as revised periodically by the government.