Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tour-Purchase of Air Ticket from authorized agents – Railway Board
Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)
No. F(E)I/2016/AL-28/25
New Delhi, dated 08.05.2019
The General Manager,
All India Railways / PUs etc.
(As per Standard Mailing List)
Sub: Guidelines on Air Travel on Official Tour-Purchase of Air Ticket from authorized agents reg.
Ref: Board’s letters of even number dated 21.09.2017, 22.12.2017 & 31.12.2018.
In accordance with the instructions contained in the Ministry of Finance, Department of expenditure’s O.M. No. 19024/ 22/ 2017-E.IV, dated 19.07.2017 guidelines regarding procedure of purchase of air ticket form authorized travel agents etc. were circulated on Indian Railways vide Board’s letter of even number dated 21.09.2017. These have also been re-circulated vide Board’s letters of even number dated 22.12.2017 & 31.12.2018.
It is however once again reiterated that the above mentioned guidelines of Ministry of Finance should be strictly followed and 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 Agent viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited, M/s Ashok Travels & Tours and IRCTC only.
Further, Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) vide their letter No. 19024/ 22/ 2017-EIV dated 27.02.2018 has decided that all such cases of air travel where tickets have been purchased after issue of MoF’s O.M. dated 19.07.2017, seeking relaxation of air travel guidelines pertaining to purchase of air ticket from authorized agent, should have the approval of Secretary of the Administrative Ministry before referring the same to Department of Expenditure. Accordingly, it is advised that due compliance: of aforementioned instructions of Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) be ensured.
Strict compliance of the letter may be ensured.
Please acknowledge receipt.
sd/-
(Basant K. Singh),
Executive Director Finance (Estt.),
Railway Board