Travelling Allowance – Analysis and Recommendations of 7th Pay Commission

Travelling Allowance – Analysis and Recommendations of 7th Pay Commission

This allowance is in the nature of travel entitlements for different ranks of government employees. No demands have been received regarding this allowance.

Analysis and Recommendations : The Commission opines that the present provisions are adequate. Hence, status quo is recommended with the present system of differentiation based on Grade Pay duly substituted by the Levels of the Pay Matrix

It is suggested that Indian Railways reconsider its position regarding air travel to its employees, in light of the possible savings in terms of cost and man-hours, particularly after the pay revision as recommended by the Commission. The fact that additional seats will be released in trains for the public will be an added advantage.

7th CPC Travelling Allowance

7th Central Pay Commission Travelling Allowance Rules

“Travelling Allowance: This allowance is in the nature of travel entitlements for different ranks of government employees”

Traveling Allowance: This Allowance on tour comprises fares for journey by rail/road/air/sea; road mileage for road journeys otherwise than by bus and Daily Allowance for the period of absence from Headquarters [Para 4.2.27 6th CPC Report]

Travel entitlement as per Pay Level in Pay Matrix

Pay Level in Pay Matrix	Travel entitlement
14 and above	Business/Club class by air or AC-I by train
12 and 13	Economy class by air or AC-I by train
9 to 11	Economy class by air or AC-II by train
6 to 8	Economy class by air or AC-II by train
5 and below	First Class/ AC-III/ AC Chair car by train

Daily Allowance as per Pay Level in Pay Matrix

A*= = Pay Level, B* = Accommodation Charges, C* = TA Charges, D* = Lumpsum

A*	B*	C*	D*
14 and above	Rs.7500/- per day	AC taxi charges as per actual expenditure	Rs.1200/- per day
12 and 13	Rs. 4,500/- per day	AC taxi charges of up to 50 km per day	Rs.1000/- per day
9 to 11	2,250/- per day	Rs.338/- per day	Rs.900/- per day
6 to 8	Rs.750/- per day	Rs.225/- per day	Rs.800/- per day
5 and below	Rs.450/- per day	Rs.113/- per day	Rs.500/- per day

Note: The Rates of Accommodation Charges, Travelling Charges, Lump sum amount will further increase by 25% whenever DA increases by 50%.

Reimbursement of Hotel charges:– For levels 8 and below, the amount of claim (up to the ceiling) may be paid without production of vouchers against self-certified claim only. The self-certified claim should clearly indicate the period of stay, name of dwelling, etc. additionally, for stay in Class ‘X’ cities, the ceiling for all employees up to Level 8 would be Rs.1,000 per day, but it will only be in the form of reimbursement upon production of relevant vouchers.

Reimbursement of Travelling charges:- Similar to Reimbursement of staying accommodation charges, for level 8 and below, the claim (up to the ceiling) may be paid without production of vouchers against self-certified claim only. The self-certified claim should clearly indicate the period of travel, vehicle number, etc. the ceiling for levels 11 and below will further rise by 25 percent whenever DA increases by 50 percent. For journeys on foot, an allowance of Rs.12/- per kilometre travelled on foot shall be payable additionally.

Reimbursement of Food charges:- There will be no separate reimbursement of food bills. Instead, the lump sum amount payable will be as per Table E(i) above and, depending on the length of absence from headquarters, would be regulated as per Table (v) below. Since the concept of reimbursement has been done away with, no vouchers will be required. This methodology is in line with that followed by Indian Railways at present (with suitable enhancement of rates). i.e. Lump sum amount payable.

Timing restrictions: Absence from Head Quarter will be reckoned from midnight to midnight and will be calculated on a per day basis.
If absence from headquarters is <6 hours = 30% of Lump sum amount
If absence from headquarters is between 6-12 hours = 70% of Lump sum amount
If absence from headquarters is >12 hours = 100% of Lump sum amount.