Centre gives nod for travel by private airlines to Kashmir while availing LTC

THE Centre has allowed the government employees to travel by private airlines to Jammu and Kashmir while availing Leave Travel Concession (LTC). In fact, the decision was taken by the new government on September 26, 2014 which was stated by an office memorandum only recently. The government changed the Central Civil Services (Leave Travel Concession) Rules, 1988 to relax the earlier norms and allow government servants to travel by private airlines provided…

the officers are entitled to travel by air. According to new norms, those officers who are not even entitled to travel by air may also be permitted to travel by private airlines between Delhi /Amritsar and any place in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Only economy class journeys are allowed for the LTC purpose. 

The office memorandum dated November 28 further stated that air tickets must be purchased directly from the airlines (booking counters, website of airlines) or by utilizing the service of authorized travel agents viz. Balmer Lawrie and Company, Ashok Travels and Tours and IRCTC. The IRCTC which is a PSU under the railway ministry has been an authorised agency for the LTC purposes since December 2009. The booking of tickets through other agencies is not permitted, the OM further clarified. 

This order will be valid for one year from the date of its issue.