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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (भारत सरकार)
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (रेल मंत्रालय)
RAILWAY BOARD (रेलवे बोर्ड)

RBE No.28/2023.

No. F(E)I/2022/ AL-28/1

New Delhi, dated: 09.02.2023

General Manager (P),
All Indian Railways/ PUs etc.
(As per standard mailing list)

Subject: Modification of instructions regarding Booking of Air Tickets on Government account.

In view of the decision of the Government for disinvestment of Air India, it has already been decided that in all cases of air travel where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, air tickets shall be purchased only from the three authorized Travel Agents viz.

• i. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL)
• ii. M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT)
• iii. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. IRCTC)

2. Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their O.M. No. 19024/03/2021/E.IV, dated 16 June, 2022 has issued certain instructions regarding booking of air -tickets on Government account in supersession to their earlier instructions on the subject. Ministry of Finance’s modified instructions are adopted and circulated to all Indian Railways/PUs in the following manner:

3. The choice of the Travel agent from amongst the 03 Travel agents under para-1, for booking of ticket for tour and LTC is left open to the Railways/PUs and to the official in case of self. booking, based on convenience and service quality. Tickets for all employees for a single tour should be done through one selected Travel Agent only. No agency charges/convenience fees will be paid to these three booking agencies.

4. Employees are to choose flight having the Best Available Fare on their entitled travel class which is the Cheapest Fare available, preferably for Non-stop flight in a given slot at the time of booking:-

(a) On the day of travel in the desired 3 hours slot of following time band — 00.00 to 03.00, 03.00 to 06.00, 06.00 to 09.00, 09.00 to 12.00, 12.00 to 15.00, 15.00 to 18.00, 18.00 to 21.00, 21.00 to 24.00.

(b) with provision of optimizing within a 10% price band, for convenience and comfort.

5. Employees are encouraged to book flight tickets at least 21 days prior to the intended date of travel on tour and LTC, to avail the most competitive fares and minimize burden on the exchequer. Accordingly, wherever possible, approval of the tour programme and LTC may be obtained at least 21 days prior to the intended date of travel.

6. Any booking made within less than 72 hours of intended travel on Tour, will require the submission of self-declared justification by the employee.

7. Employees are also encouraged to avoid unnecessary cancellations. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before intended travel, will require the submission of a self-declared justification by the employee.

8. Employees should préferably book only one ticket for each leg of intended travel. Holding of more than one ticket is not allowed. However, in case of special exigencies or exceptional circumstances, a maximum of two tickets for the alternative flights for different time-slot may be booked for the same leg of travel with the self-declared justification for the same. In such exceptional circumstances, the booking of two alternative flights be done with the approval of the authority competent to approve the air travel.

• (a) While tickets may be arranged by the office through the Travel Agent, employees are encouraged to make ticket booking digitally through the Self Booking Tool/online booking website/portal of these 3 authorized Travel agencies only.
• (b) Employees must register their official Government Email-id with these 3 Travel agencies to book their air tickets digitally through above modes for travel ‘by any airlines.

10. Railways/PUs should ensure the availability of sanctioned Budget for Domestic and Foreign travel for their employees.

11. In case of unavoidable circumstances, where the booking of ticket is done from unauthorized travel agent/website, (i) JS/Railway Board in cases of Railway Board, (ii) PHoD/CHoD/HoD with independent charge not below SAG level in Zonal-Railways/PUs & (iii) DRM in Divisions are authorized to grant relaxation with Finance concurrence.

12. All Railways/PUs are to clear their dues on account of air ticket to the concerned travel agent within a maximum of 30 days from completion of journey.

13. To ensure timely payment of air ticket to the travel agents, to confirm the performance of journey, the employee has to submit a certificate/undertaking in prescribed proforma (enclosed as Annexure-1) within 72 hours of completion of journey. TA bill may be submitted later as per the existing rules.

14, Railways/PUs must clear all previous outstanding dues to the travel agents by 15th February 2023.

15. No Mileage Points will be generated against travel on Government account.

16. All Railways/PUs are directed to’ ensure strict compliance of the order and to widely circulate this O.M. in all offices including Attached/Subordinate Offices/Autonomous Bodies under their control.

17. The instructions regarding Air Travel entitlement of Railway employees as issued under Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2017/AL-28/41, dated 24.08.2017, 25.09.2017, 24.04.2018, 08.05.2018 & 10.05.2018 and as consolidated vide Board’s letter No. F(E)I/2021/AL-28/47, dated 13.08.2021 shall remain in force.

18. This letter is issued in supersession of Board’s earlier instructions issued vide letter of even No. dated 11.01.2022 on the subject.

19. This issues with the approval of the Board (MF, CRB & CEO).

(Sonali Chaturvedi)
Joint Director Finance (Estt.)
Railway Board

Annexure-I

Self-declaration Certificate for Completion of Journey 

Annexure to Board’s Letter No. F(E)1/2022/AL-28/1, dated 09.02.2023)

1, I (Name of the employee … … … … … … … … … … … ) hereby declare and certify that:

2. I have actually performed the onward journey from … … … … … … … … to … … … … … … … … … … on … … … … … … … …  (date) and return journey from … … … … … … … … to … … … … … … … … … … on … … … … … … … … for the purpose of Tour/Training.

3. I/We have. actually performed ‘the onward journey from … … … … … … … … to … … … … … … on … … … … … … … … (date) and return journey from … … … … … … to … … … … … … on … … … … … … for the purpose of Transfer/LTC/Retirement. The particulars of the self and family members who have performed journey either with the Government servant or separately are as under:-

4. Incase the above declaration given by me is not found true at any stage, I shall be liable to disciplinary action under Railway Services ( Discipline & Appeal )Rules, 1968 , as amended from time to time.

(Signature)
Name of the Government Servant … … … … … … … … … …
Designation … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
Name of the Railway/PU … … … … … … … … … … … … … .

To
Admin/ Establishment Section
Railway/ PU

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No.19024/22/2017-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 19th July, 2017

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours – Purchase of air ticket from authorized agent.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Departments’ OM. No.19024/1/2005-E.IV dated 24.03.2006, OM. No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 16.09.2010 and OM. No.19024/1/2012-E.IV dated 09.07.2013 regarding guidelines on Air travel. As per these guidelines, in all cases of Air Travel where the Government of India bears the cost of air passage, Air Tickets may be purchased directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/website of Airlines) and if needed, by utilizing the services of three Authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC).

2. This Department is receiving a large number of proposals from various Ministries/Departments seeking ex-post-facto relaxation of the prescribed procedure for purchase of air tickets from authorized travel agents only.

3. The matter has been reconsidered in this Department. All Ministries/Departments are again directed to:

(i) Ensure strict compliance of extant guidelines for purchase of air ticket directly from Airlines (at Booking counters/office/Website of Airlines) or from three authorized Travel Agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC only by all officials/offices under their control. Henceforth relaxation on account of ignorance/unawareness of these guidelines will not be considered by this Department.

ii) In case of non-availability of authorized agent at a particular place, ticket may be booked from website of Airlines or web portal of Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd., M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and lRCTC.

iii) In respect of Non-officials of Committees/Boards/Panels, the concerned Ministry/Department have to mention in the meeting notice that the Non-official Member has to purchase the ticket from authorized travel agent only otherwise his claim will not be settled by that Ministry/Department.

iv) All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, etc. have to widely circulate this OM. in all offices including attached/subordinate offices/ autonomous bodies under their control with specific instructions to Heads of Departments concerned for strict compliance of these guidelines. Non-compliance of these guidelines by Ministries/Departments will be treated as lapse on the part of the concerned Ministry/Department.

sd/-
(Nirmala Dev)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Click to view the order

Authority: www.doe.gov.in

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No.19024/1/2012-E-IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 10th October, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:- ‘Facilitation Fee’ to be levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account- Regarding.

Attention is invited to this Department’s OM. of even number dated 28th May 2013 wherein all Ministries/Departments were advised not to pay Agency Commission/Charges etc. charged by M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) in their Bills, raised for air tickets booked on Government account, till a final decision is taken in the matter.

2. The matter has been considered and it has now been decided that, in heu of withdrawal of ‘Transaction Fee’ by Air India/Airlines, the authorised travel agents namely M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), are allowed to levy ‘Facilitation Fee’ of 100/- per ticket for domestic sector and 300/- per ticket for international sector for air travel, wherein Government of India bears the cost of air passage. Further, these rates are to be applied prospectively i.e. Bills raised by the authorised travel agents for journeys undertaken should not include this fee.

3. All Ministries/Departments are again advised that, as far as possible, air tickets on Government account may be obtained directly from Air India/Airlines (bookingcounters/offices/website). Only when obtaining tickets directly from Air India/Airlines is not possible, should the services of authorised travel agents be availed of. These instructions should be brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.

sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source : www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/air_travel/facilitaionFee_AirTicket.pdf]

The post Finmin Orders – ‘Facilitation Fee’ to be levied by authorised travel agents on air tickets booked on Government account- Reg appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

No.19024/1/2012-E.IV
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

North Block. New Delhi
Dated the 9th July, 2013

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours / Leave Travel Concession (LTC) – reg.

Reference is invited to instructions issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance from time-to-time regarding the procedure for booking of air tickets on Government account. As per existing procedure Government officials/offices can book the air tickets directly from Airlines (at Booking counters / Website of Airlines) and if needed, by utilizing the services of authorized agents. viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) and M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) [Department of Expenditure OM No.19024/1/2009-E.IV dated 16/09/2010 refers]. Air tickets for travel on LTC, to a limited extent, can also be get booked through Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation(IRCTC) [Department of Personnel & Training 0M No. 31011/6/2002-Estt.(A) dated 02/12/2009 refers].

2. It has now been decided to include IRCTC as an authorized for the purpose of booking air tickets on Government account. Accordingly, if the services of a travel agent for booking air tickets on Government account is to be availed of, in addition to BLCL and ATT, the services of IRCTC can also be availed of.

3. All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India. etc. may accordingly bring these instructions to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance.

sd/-
(Subhash Chand)
Deputy Secretary of Government of India

Source: www.finmin.nic.in
[http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/air_travel/Guideline_airtravel_09072013.pdf]

The post Finmin Orders 2013: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tours / Leave Travel Concession (LTC) – reg. appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.