Validity of Duty Passes for travel in Duronto Express Trains.

R.B.E No.37/ 2012

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(W)2009 PS 5-1/ 30

New Delhi, dated 21st March 2012.

The General Managers (Personnel & Commercial)
All Indian Railways &
Production Units.

Sub:- Validity of Duty Passes for travel in Duronto Express Trains.

Ref.: Railway Board letter No.TC-II/2910/09/Duronto Train dated 30-9-2009 (Commercial Circular No.53 of 2009)

   Instructions have been issued vide Board’s letter No. TC-II/2910/09/Duronto Train dated 30-9-2009 (Commercial Circular No.53 of 2009) regarding the basic fare structure and classes of travel available on Duronto Express Trains. With a view to facilitate inspection of these trains, the issue to allow ‘Duty Passes’ on Duronto Express Trains was under consideration in Board’s Office.

   2. After careful consideration, it has been decided to allow railway offcials to travel in Duronto Express Trains while travelling ON DUTY only subject to the following:

   (i) The entittlement of Railway officer/staff to travel in Duronto Express trains will be same as that in case of Rajdhani Express trains with the only exception that the highest class in which they can travel in these trains will be 2 AC and not 1AC.

   (ii) The maximum number of berths/seats which can be booked in a train per trip will be as under:

II 4 Berths
III 6 Berths
A.C.Chair Car 6 Seats

  (iii) At the time of booking tickets against this quota, only wait listed ticket will be issued and the berths will be confirmed at the time of release of Emergency Quota, on receipt of request keeping in view the inter-se seniority of officers/urgency of travel etc.

   (iv) At the time of preparation of reservation charts, the unutilized accommodation earmarked for this purpose shall get released to RAC/Wait-listed passengers.

   (v) The accommodation to be earmarked for onboard ticket checking staff manning the train will be on the pattern of Rajdhani Express trains.

   (vi) CTC Squad of Railway Board and CCMs’ Squad of zonal Railways and staff of Vagilance Department can conduct surprise checks in these trains on the authority of duty pass without advance reservation.

   3. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

   4. Receipt of this letter may please be acknowledged.

(N.C. Jain)
Dy. Director Estt. (Welfare)
Railway Board.

Source:http://www.airfindia.com/Orders%202012/Duronto%20Duty%20Pass_21.03.2012.pdf

Demand for One Rank One Pension for Retired Army Personnel.

   The ex-servicemen Associations have been demanding for several years grant of same pension which is granted to new pensioners with same rank and same length of service irrespective of date of retirement, popularly known as "One Rank One Pension" (OROP). The differentials in pension between the past and the new retirees arise on account of the fact that the computation of pension depends on the pay scale of the person at the time of retirement and pension undergoes change as and when the pay scales are revised.

   Their requests have been considered by the Government and over the years several improvements have been made in pension of past pensioners in accordance with the recommendations of successive Pay Commissions, as accepted by the Government. The Cabinet Secretary Committee constituted by the Government of India to look into the demand of OROP and related issues gave seven recommendations to reduce the gap between past and current pensioners. All the seven recommendations were accepted and implemented which has significantly reduced the gap between the past and present pensioners and also considerably improved the pension of disabled ex-servicemen. However pension reform is a continuous process.

   This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony in written reply to Shri T.M. Selvaganapathi in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB