Gujarat MLAs get enhanced travel perks
In a significant move, the Gujarat government has expanded the travel privileges of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), allowing them to travel in executive class on premium trains at the state’s expense.
According to a notification issued by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Secretariat, MLAs will now be entitled to travel across India in executive class on all trains, including premium services such as Vande Bharat Express, Tejas Express, and Duronto Express.
The revised provision has been published in the Gujarat Government Gazette (Extraordinary). Earlier, under the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Members’ Salaries and Allowances Act, 1960, MLAs were permitted to travel in first-class or second-class air-conditioned coaches. With the latest amendment, their eligibility has been upgraded to include executive class or any class of travel on all trains.
The notification clarifies that this new facility is in addition to the existing travel benefits available to MLAs, and there are no changes to other conditions specified under Section 5B of the Act. All other related provisions governing MLAs’ travel entitlements will continue to remain in force.
