This decision has been taken in view of the disinvestment of Air India.
The Finance Ministry on Friday said that for all air travel where the government bears the cost, tickets will be procured from any one of three agents – Balmer Lawrie, Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC.
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance said in an office memorandum that this decision has been taken in view of the disinvestment of Air India.
“In all cases of air travel where the Government of India bears the cost of the air route, the air tickets shall be procured from three authorized travel agents viz., Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC),” it said.
The choice of travel agent for booking of tickets by the individual Ministry/Department will depend upon the quality of service provided, additional facilities. Additional baggage., cancellation and rescheduling facility, said the Department of Expenditure.
The administrative ministries of the three authorized agents will also ensure that all the three agencies, apart from providing facilities through dedicated staff, book tickets directly through an application on their website exclusively as functionality for Central Government employees. Provide option to Areas in the country where the services of authorized travel agents may not be readily available.
The Department of Expenditure, in a 2009 order, had stated that in cases of air travel (both domestic and international) including LTC where the Government of India bears the cost of the air route, officers can travel by Air India only.
Following its decision to sell Air India to the Tata group for Rs 18,000 crore, the government in October had asked ministries and departments to immediately clear debt-ridden Air India’s dues and buy tickets only in cash from now on.
The government wants to complete the sale process of Air India to the Tata group by next month.
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