In a significant update for central government employees, the Centre has now permitted travel on premium trains such as Tejas, Vande Bharat, and Humsafar under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scheme.
The decision, which will benefit lakhs of employees, follows a directive from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and comes after several offices recommended the inclusion of these premium train services in the LTC scheme.
Central Govt Employees Can Use Premium Trains
According to the order issued by the DoPT on Tuesday, the government has expanded the list of eligible trains for LTC travel. In addition to the existing Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto trains, central government employees can now travel by Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express, and Humsafar Express trains.
“The matter has been examined by this department in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and it has been decided to allow these premium trains under LTC,” the DoPT stated.
Central Govt Employees’ LTC Benefits
The LTC scheme allows eligible central government employees to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, in addition to paid leave, for travel within India. Employees can utilize the scheme to travel anywhere in the country within a four-year block. The scheme aims to encourage employees to take time off from work and spend quality time with their families.
With this, the government has extended its LTC exemptions to air travel as well. Employees travelling to the northeastern states, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can now avail of travel exemptions until September 25, 2026.
However, it is important to note that only employees entitled to air travel under the existing rules can avail of this exemption.
What Is LTC?
Leave Travel Concession (LTC) is a travel allowance scheme specifically designed for government employees. It allows them to visit their hometown or any destination within India during a four-year block period.
Under the scheme, government employees have two options:
- They can avail of Home Town LTC twice within a four-year block, dividing it into two two-year periods.
- Alternatively, they can visit their hometown once during two years and explore any other place in India during the remaining two-year period.
The government covers the travel expenses for the employee and their eligible family members under this scheme. Furthermore, employees and their families can travel separately at different times during the block period. They may also choose different destinations when opting for the “Any Place in India” LTC option.
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