Digital Desk: In an effort to cut down on wasteful spending, the
Finance Ministry has instructed government employees to choose the 'lowest cost
available' on their entitled travel class and buy air tickets at least three
weeks prior to their date of departure for trips and LTC.
Employees should book only one ticket for each leg of planned
travel, make bookings even if the tour itinerary is still being approved, and
avoid "unnecessary cancellations," according to the Ministry.
Air tickets for government personnel are now exclusively
available from three authorised travel agents: Balmer Lawrie & Co, Ashok
Travel & Tours, and IRCTC.
"Employees are to choose flights 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,"
said the office memorandum of the Department of Expenditure.
According to the instructions, tickets for all employees on a
single tour should be purchased through a single travel agent, and no charges
or fees should be paid to these booking agents.
"Employees are recommended to book aircraft tickets at
least 21 days prior to their scheduled trip or LTC travel to take advantage of
the most attractive pricing and reduce the impact on the exchequer," it
stated.
Employees were also encouraged to book tickets digitally through
the self-booking tool/online booking website/portal of the three authorised
travel agents, according to the revised directive.
"Employees should purchase only one ticket for each leg of
their journey. It is not permitted to possess more than one ticket. However, in
the event of unusual emergencies or exceptional situations, a maximum of two
tickets for alternative flights in different time slots for the same leg of
trip may be booked with self-declared reason "read the instruction.
If ordering a ticket from an unlicensed travel agent/website is
unavoidable, the relaxation must be granted only by an officer with the rank of
Joint Secretary or higher.
The Expenditure Department also requested that all ministries
and departments pay their travel agents within 30 days of the journey's
completion, and that officers produce a certificate/undertaking certifying
their travel within 72 hours of the journey's completion.
It stated that ministries must pay all previous outstanding travel agent debts by August 31, 2022, and that no mileage points will be awarded for travel on government accounts.
Because fiscal expenses are already high due to excise duty cuts on gasoline and diesel, customs duty reductions in some commodities, larger fertiliser subsidies, and a free food scheme for the underprivileged, the Ministry is aiming to eliminate wasteful spending.
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