LTC by air to J&K, North East and Andamans extended by two more years

The government has extended the scheme enabling LTC air travel to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jammu & Kashmir, and the North East Region for two years.

"N relaxation to CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988, the scheme allowing Government servants to travel by air to North East Region (NER), Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Union Territory of Ladakh, and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N) is extended for a further period of two years, w.e.f. 26 September 2022 until 25 September 2024," the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) stated in an office

Terms and Conditions to avail of extended LTC benefit

The following guidelines have been set forth by DoPT for using the special discount:

1. Any eligible government employee who converts one of their Home Town LTCs within a four-year block period is eligible to get LTC to travel to any location in NER, A&N, J&K, or Ladakh.
2. Government employees cannot use the Home Town LTC facility if their Home Town and their Headquarters or place of posting are the same. As a result, they are not permitted to convert any Home Town LTC.
3. The government employee whose home town is in one of the following four regions: NER, A&N, J&K, or Ladakh will also be permitted to convert his or her home town LTC in order to take advantage of this Scheme and visit any location in any of the other three regions, bar the one where their home town is located.
4. In a block of four years, new recruits can convert to one of the three Home Town LTCs that apply to them in order to visit NER/A&N/J&K/Ladakh. Additionally, they are permitted to use one more Home Town LTC conversion in a block of four years to go to Ladakh or the UT of J&K.
5. Subject to certain rules and circumstances, government employees who are eligible to travel by air may take advantage of this concession from their headquarters when flying in their appropriate class on any carrier.
6. Under specific circumstances and conditions, government employees who are not authorised to fly may do so in Economy class on any airline in the following sectors:-
   • between Guwahati/Kolkata and any NER location.
   • between Port Blair and Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam.
   • between any location in J&K or Ladakh and Delhi or Amritsar.
     The DoPT stated that this non-entitled personnel would travel from their headquarters to Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Delhi, and Amritsar in accordance with their entitlement.
7. Air travel by Government employees to NER, J&K, Ladakh and
   A&N as mentioned is allowed whether they avail the concession against Anywhere in India LTC or in lieu of the Home Town LTC, as permitted.
8. Government employees who aren't allowed to fly are still permitted to do so from their headquarters straight to any location in NER, A&N, J&K, or Ladakh in Economy class with any airline, albeit reimbursement is subject to restrictions that the DoPT has already announced.

Random checking of air tickets to prevent misuse

The DoPT has advised all ministries and departments to ensure no misuse of LTC by employees,

“…any misuse of LTC will be viewed seriously and the employees will be liable for appropriate action under the rules. In order to keep a check on any kind of misuse of LTC, Ministries/Departments are advised to randomly get some of the air tickets submitted by the officials verified from the airlines concerned with regard to the actual cost of air travel vis-a-vis the cost indicated on the air tickets submitted by the officials.”