WB LTC Rule: State Govt Employees to Get Full Air Fare for Andaman Travel New Notification Issued
WB LTC Rule: The Finance Department of the Government of West Bengal has brought excellent news for state government employees right at the end of the year. The long-standing complexities regarding the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) for travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have finally been resolved. In a new notification issued by the Finance Department (Audit Branch), it has been announced that government employees traveling to Andaman by air will now be reimbursed the full fare by the government. This new directive was issued vide Memo No. 4670-F(P2) dated December 30, 2025.
Until now, as per the rules of 2005, state government employees were entitled to avail the LTC benefit for traveling to Andaman once in a block of ten years by ships operated by the Shipping Corporation of India. However, in present circumstances, travel by ship has become inconvenient and impractical due to irregular services and the time consumed. Consequently, many employees were opting for air travel. The problem, however, lay in the reimbursement. Even if one traveled by air, the reimbursement was restricted to the applicable shipping fare, leading to frequent ambiguity and administrative difficulties.
What Does the New Notification Say?
After careful consideration, the Governor has been pleased to decide on a partial modification of the 2005 rule. According to the new order, state government employees opting for LTC to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are now permitted to travel by air in Economy Class and claim the actual ticket price. However, certain conditions must be met.
Conditions for Air Fare Reimbursement
According to the Finance Department’s memorandum, the following conditions must be fulfilled for air travel:
- Point of Origin: The journey must be undertaken from the airport in India nearest to the employee’s headquarters or place of posting.
- Airline Selection: The travel must be via a ‘National Carrier’ or an Indian Private Airline operating a direct flight to Shri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair).
- Ticket Booking: Air tickets must be booked directly from the airline’s booking counter or through the official website of the airline. Bookings made through third-party apps or agents may not be accepted for full reimbursement compliance.
- Reimbursement Limit: The amount admissible for reimbursement shall be limited to the actual air fare as indicated on the ticket.
Is the Option to Travel by Ship Discontinued?
No, the option to travel by ship has not been discontinued. The notification clearly states that if an employee chooses, they can still continue to travel by ship/vessel in accordance with the 2005 memo and the subsequent memo No. 4784-F(P2) dated 28/11/2024. Essentially, employees now have the flexibility to choose between ship and air travel according to their convenience.
This order comes into force with effect from the date of issue, i.e., December 30, 2025. This decision by the Finance Department has naturally brought cheer among government employees. With the relief from the hassle of irregular ship services to Shri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and the financial coverage for faster air travel, planning a trip to the islands has become much easier.
