LTC New Rule: Big relief to government employees, now they will be able to avail of this special facility for two more years..

Giving a big relief to its employees, the central government has extended the scheme allowing travel to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Northeast region under Leave Travel Concession (LTC) by two years. Now government employees will be able to travel by air to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Northeast region till 25 September 2026. Earlier this scheme was ending on 25 September 2024. Eligible central government employees also get reimbursement of tickets for travel to and fro travel in addition to paid leave on availing LTC.

The Personnel Ministry has said in an order that all eligible employees are entitled to LTC to visit any place in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Northeast region instead of change in one of their home town LTC in a block period of four years. Employees who are not entitled to air travel are also allowed to travel in economy class of any airline to these areas.

These are the new rules.
According to the order, government employees who are eligible for air travel can book flights in the entitled class from their headquarters. Non-entitled employees will be able to travel by air in economy class on certain routes. These routes include routes between Kolkata/Guwahati and any place in the Northeast region, between Kolkata/Chennai/Visakhapatnam and Port Blair, and between Delhi/Amritsar and any place in Jammu and Kashmir/Ladakh.

Booking and rules
As per government guidelines, employees have to book tickets from approved travel agents and select the best available fare. The government has also asked all ministries to conduct random audits to check LTC claims so that irregularities can be prevented.

What is LTC?
The LTC scheme is a concessional travel service for government employees to visit their hometown or any place in India during a block of four years. As per the rules of the scheme, government employees have the option to either avail Home Town LTC twice in a block of two years or visit their home town once in two years and visit any place in India in the second block of two years.