The Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB), which was approved by the Union Cabinet, is given each year before the Dusshera.
The financial implication of payment of 78 days' PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs 1021.56 crore, said a government statement.
The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the employees is Rs 3500 per month.
The decision of the Cabinet would be implemented before the holidays for this year, the statement said.
Railway unions had demanded 80-day bonus for this year and had written to Railway Minister C P Joshi as the organisation had given the 78-day bonus to its employees last year also.
Officials had, however, admitted that given the finacial constraint, railways would be hard-pressed to give more bonus than the last time.
