Clarification regarding purchase of Air Tickets from Authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC – Dopt Orders June 2014

Clarification regarding purchase of Air Tickets from Authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC – Dopt Orders June 2014

F.No. 31011/4/2014-Estt (A.IV) 

Government of India 

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions 

Department of Personnel and Training 

 

North Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dated: 19th June, 2014

OFFICE MEMORANDUM 

 

Subject: – Clarification regarding purchase of Air Tickets from Authorized Travel Agents for the purpose of LTC. 

 

The undersigned is directed to refer to the instructions issued from time to time on the above noted subject and say that the Government employees are required to book their air tickets directly from the airlines (Booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of Authorized Travel Agents viz. ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company’. ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tour’ and ‘IRCTC’ (to the extent IRCTC is authorized as per DoPT O.M. No.31011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dated 02.12.2009) while undertaking LTC journey(s).

 

2. In a number of cases, it has been noticed that the aforesaid instructions are not being followed and as a result various Ministries/Departments continue to make references to DoPT seeking relaxation of the conditions for one reason or the other. The most common reasons given by the employees are unawareness of the rules and non-availability of Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Ashok Tmvels, M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company at places where the tickets have been booked from. Even in such cases, the option of booking directly from the airlines through their website is available. In no case is the booking of tickets through any other agency is permissible.

 

3. All the Ministries/Departments of Government of India are advised to ensure that their employees are made aware of the above mentioned guidelines to avoid breach of any of the LTC rules.

 

4. This issues with the approval of Joint Secretary(E).

sd/-

(B.Bandyopadhyay)

Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source : www.persmin.gov.in

[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02est/31011_4_2014-Estt-A.IV.pdf]

LTC - Leave Travel Concession – Air Travel concession ends today

LTC - Leave Travel Concession – Air Travel concession ends today

Concession of Air travel, which the Central Government employees have been enjoying for the past 6 years, comes to an end today. It is saddening to see that a scheme, that was so popular and enjoyed by all across ranks, has come to an end.

Travelling by airplane with the entire family is still not an ordinary feat for the majority of Indians. It therefore comes as no surprise that the ones who didn’t utilize this opportunity are regretting it.

For countless Central Government employees who completed a year in service and took their parents and siblings on a plane journey, it will be a memory worth cherishing for a very long time.

Former employees, who had served for 30-40 years but didn’t enjoy this facility, sure have their regrets. No matter how sophisticated and comfortable buses, trains and ships are, they can’t quite match the thrill of travelling by air.

There are no indications yet that the scheme could be extended, but one can be sure only after the 2014-15 General Budget is presented.

Government’s Travel Allowances for the MPs

Government’s Travel Allowances for the MPs

Recently, there were controversies regarding the travel allowances of Members of the Parliament. Let’s take a look at the actual travel allowance granted by the Central Government to the MPs:

Members of the Parliament are given concessions to travel to attend the Parliament sessions and to participate in the meetings. These to-and-from travel concessions are given from the usual place of residence of these members to the Parliament or to the place where the meeting is going to be held.

Via Train/Airplane: In case of train journey, charges for one First Class ticket and one Second Class ticket are given. The concession is given for whatever class the MP travels in.

For travel via air, 1.5 times the fare is given to the MP. For travel via road, the member is paid up to Rs. 13 per kilometre. If there is no direct air-route from the MP’s place of residence to the place where the Parliamentary session is being held, then the member is given the option to choose the travel mode that could get him/her to the destination within a day. The member’s spouse is entitled to accompany him/her once during the general session and twice during the budget meetings – adding up to not more than 8 times in a year – to New Delhi and back, via air/train or by road, from the place of residence.

Free Train Travel: Each MP and his/her spouse are given special identity cards that entitle them to travel free of cost, to any part of the country, by train, in First Class air-conditioned coach. His/her personal assistant is given identity cards that qualify them for free travel in Second Class air-conditioned railway coaches. These cards are valid for the entire tenure of the Member of Parliament.

8 trips via Air: Each year, the Member of Parliament is entitled, either with his/her spouse, assistants, or with relatives, to make 34 trips by airplane to any part of the country. The spouse or assistant can make 8 trips by air to meet the Member of Parliament. In case of physically challenged Members of Parliaments, the personal assistant is allowed to travel with him/her constantly. Members of Parliament are entitled to many such benefits and allowances.

Source: CGEN.in

[http://centralgovernmentemployeesnews.in/2014/06/governments-travel-allowances-for-the-mps/]