Government Issues New Guidelines for Air Ticket Booking under LTC Scheme for Employees
The Office of the Director General of Audit (Central), Chennai, has issued a circular emphasizing the importance of booking air tickets under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scheme at least 21 days before travel. The circular, dated January 9, 2025, refers to an earlier Office Memorandum from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which outlined key guidelines for government employees using LTC benefits.
Advance Booking for Cost Savings
Government employees are encouraged to book air tickets well in advance—at least 21 days prior to travel. This requirement aims to secure the most competitive fares and minimize financial strain on government funds. The circular noted that many employees have not been following this guideline and urged them to comply strictly in order to avoid unnecessary extra costs.
Justification for Delayed Bookings
Employees who fail to book tickets in advance must provide valid reasons for their delay. The circular stresses that late bookings should not become a regular practice, and those who do not comply must justify their actions.
Authorized Travel Agents for Ticket Bookings
To ensure transparency and prevent unauthorized bookings, the circular mandates that government employees must book their air tickets through one of three authorized travel agents (ATAs):
- M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL)
- M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT)
- Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC)
Employees are required to select the best available fare within their entitled travel class, with a preference for non-stop flights at the cheapest rates. A printout of the webpage showing flight and fare details must be retained for the LTC claim settlement process.
Timely Submission of LTC Applications
The circular also highlighted the issue of employees submitting LTC applications close to their travel date, causing processing delays. Employees are now advised to submit LTC Advance and Earned Leave (EL) Encashment applications at least 10 days before their onward journey to ensure timely approvals.
Strict Adherence to Guidelines
The circular stresses the importance of adhering to these guidelines and warns against last-minute bookings that could result in higher travel expenses. Compliance with the 21-day advance booking rule is mandatory, and any deviations must be supported by legitimate reasons.
LTC Scheme Details
The LTC scheme allows government employees to travel to their hometown or any location within India at a concessional rate within a four-year block period. The current LTC block spans from 2022 to 2025, further divided into two sub-blocks:
- 2022-2023
- 2024-2025
Employees can avail of Hometown LTC twice or visit their hometown once and any other location in India in another two-year block.
The circular, approved by the Director of Administration, has been digitally signed by Senior Audit Officer (Claims), Ramesh M S, highlighting the importance of compliance with LTC booking rules.
