IREC Rule No.1420: Breakdown Allowance

1420. Railway Employees Deputed For Breakdown Duties Will Be Entitled To The Following Breakdown Allowance:-

(1)   Non-gazetted Railway servants employed in Running sheds and Carriage and Wagon depots who are earmarked for attending to breakdown duties and Relief Train Electrical staff, including Supervisory staff, holding posts in the revised pay structure upto grade pay Rs.4200 in Pay Band PB-2 (Rs.9300-34800) (except the Supervisors in charge of Carriage & Wagon Depots, loco Running shed or the Electrical Relief Train), shall be allowed the following;

(i)    Breakdown Allowance at the following rates;

(1) Non-gazetted Railway servants employed in Running sheds and Carriage and Wagon depots who are earmarked for attending to breakdown duties and Relief Train Electrical staff, including Supervisory staff, holding posts upto Level 6 (Rs.4200 GP) and above in the Pay Matrix (except the Supervisors in charge of Carriage & Wagon Depots, Loco Running Shed or the Electrical Relief Train), shall be allowed the following:-
(i) Breakdown Allowance at the following rates:-

[Authority: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2017/BDA-1, dated 30.08.2017 (RBE No. 106/2017) (ACS No.61)]

(a)   This allowance will be treated as a compensatory allowance for all purposes.

(b)   The payment of this allowance would be subject to a review by the Controlling officer to ensure proper performance of breakdown duty. The allowance will not be admissible to the Railway servants who have failed to turn out for the breakdown duties within the stipulated time.

(c)  The rate of this allowance will be increased by 25% whenever the Dearness Allowance payable on the revised pay structure goes up by 50%.

[Authority: RBE No.177/2009, No.E(P&A)II-2007/FE-4/3, 25.09.2009, ACS No.10]

[Authority: Railway Board’s letter No.E(P&A)II-2017/BDA-1, dated 30.08.2017 (RBE No. 106/2017) (ACS No.61)]

(ii)    Priority in allotment of quarters, particularly for quarters near the Running sheds or Carriage & Wagon depots, as the case may be.

(iii)   Supply of free food, departmentally or otherwise, during the period they are engaged in breakdown duties;

Note: Where it is not possible to make arrangements for supply of free food, in exceptional circumstances, cash in lieu thereof may be paid to the non-gazetted staff including Gangmen and Trolleymen engaged in Breakdown duties, at the rates fixed by the General Manager in consultation with FA&CAO.

(iv)   Payment for overtime work in accordance with the normal rules, time taken in traveling to the site of the accident and back shall also be reckoned for payment of overtime;

(v)   Payment of full daily allowance at the rates applicable to ordinary localities without the stipulation that they should be out of headquarters beyond 8 kilometers for a period exceeding 12 consecutive hours.

(a)  Daily allowance at full rates as above will be admissible for each breakdown occurring at difference places on the same day.

(2)   All other non-gazetted staff of all departments who are called out in connection with accidents / breakdowns, including the Supervisory staff who are not eligible for Breakdown Allowance, shall be allowed the concessions enumerated in clauses (iii), (iv) & (v) of sub-rule (1) above.

(3)   Gazetted staff who are called out in connection with accidents/breakdowns shall be allowed the concessions enumerated in clauses (iii) & (v) of sub-rule (1) above. Cash compensation in lieu of free food shall, however, not be admissible to them.

[Authority: RBE No.118/1999, No.E(P & A)II-98/BDA-1, 25.05.1999, ACS No.42]

(4)   For the purpose of sub-rule (1), (2) and (3) above, a breakdown may be;

(i)    Any accident which involves the calling out of a breakdown train or engine with special staff or equipment (including MFD equipment or traffic crane) from the nearest breakdown train depot or shed, or a breach or wash away on the line which interrupts normal traffic; or

(ii)    Any of the following which interrupt normal traffic on running lines;

(a)   Snapping of overhead electric traction lines which involves calling out of Tower Wagon or Breakdown Lorry;

(b)   Damage / Bursting of points requiring the attendance of a Breakdown /Repair / Maintenance Gang;

(c)    Breakdown of interlocked lifting barriers;

(d)   Total interruption of telecommunication / communications or of power supply.

[Authority: RBE No.144/1991, No.E(P&A)II/91/BDA/1/DC/JCM, 13.08.1991, ACS No.12]