Journey by Road, Rail and Sea under CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988 – FAQ, clarifications/ modifications in the LTC instructions: DoPT O.M.

Kiran Kumari 0 July 5, 2025 10:02 pm

FAQ (E) JOURNEY BY ROAD, RAIL AND SEA issued vide DoP&T, GoI O.M. F.No.31011/07/2025 PP.A-IV dated 01.07.2025

S. No.	Questions	Answers
(E) JOURNEY BY ROAD, RAIL AND SEA
29	Whether travel by taxi, auto-rickshaw etc., permissible between places not connected by rail under LTC ?	As per LTC rules, a Government employee is required to travel by vehicles operated by Central/State Government or local bodies or by any corporation in the public sector owned/controlled by Central/State Government. Journey on LTC by taxi, auto-rickshaw etc., are permissible only between places not connected by rail/ road. This is further subject to the condition that these modes operate on a regular basis from point to point with the specific approval of the State Governments/transport authorities concerned and are authorised to ply as public carriers. [OM No. 31011/3/2015-Estt.(A.IV) dated09.02.2017] [O.M. No. 31011/18/2023-Estt.A-IV dated04.02.2021]
30	Whether personal vehicle or hired taxi for LTC journey allowed on account of disability of the Government employee or dependent family member?	Yes. Use of own/hired taxi for LTC journey on account of disability of the Government employee or dependent family member is allowed with following conditions:- (i) Medical Certificate from competent authority; (ii) Undertaking from Government employee that journey by authorized mode of vehicles is not feasible and he actually travelled by own car/hired taxi; and (iii) such claim should not be more than journey performed by the entitled class by rail/air by the shortest route. [O.M. No. 31011/3/2009-Estt.(A), dated28.10.2009]
31	How is the reimbursement made where a Government employee travels on LTC upto the nearest airport/railway station/ bus terminal by authorized mode of transport and undertakes the rest of the journey to the declared place of visit by private transport/ own arrangement (such as personal vehicle or private taxi etc.) ?	(a) where the public transport is available in a particular area, the Government employee will be reimbursed the fare admissible for journey by otherwise entitled mode of public transport from the nearest airport/railway station/bus terminal to the declared place of visit by shortest direct route. (b)where, there is no public transport available in a particular stretch of journey, the Government employee may be reimbursed as per his entitlement for journey on transfer for a maximum limit of 200 Kms (i.e.100 km each side) covered by the private/personal transport based on a self- certification from the Government employee. The expenditure for the journey beyond the prescribed limit shall be borne by the Government employee. [OM No. 31011/3/2015-Estt.(A.IV) dated09.02.2017] [O.M. No. 31011/18/2023-Estt.A-IV dated04.02.2021]
32	Whether reimbursement is allowed in case the journey is performed by private ferry after utilizing the authorized mode of transportation ?	In cases where last part of the journey from the nearest airport/railway station is performed by private ferry, reimbursement may be restricted to the entitled Government ship fare from the nearest airport/station to the declared place of destination provided public transport/Government ferry is available in that particular area. [OM No. 31011/3/2015-Estt.(A.IV) dated09.02.2017]

33	Is reimbursement of LTC claim for Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express and Humsafar Express allowed?	Yes. Apart from Rajdhani, Shatabdi & Duronto trains, travel by Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express and Humsafar Express trains under LTC is allowed, as per entitlement. [O.M. No. 31011/03/2022-PP A-IV,dated 14.01.2025]
34	Whether a Government employees visiting Sikkim can travel by air upto Bagdogra (West Bengal) which is not situated in NER.	Yes. A Government employee is entitled to travel by air from their place of posting (or nearest airport) to a city in the NER (or nearest airport). [OM No. 31011/4/2007-Estt.A-IV dated14.05.2008]
35	How are the claims of LTC be settled in case of delayed submission ?	The Government employees are required to submit their LTC claims in the prescribed time period as mentioned below: 1. Where advance has been drawn, the claim for reimbursement shall be submitted within one month of the completion of the return journey; and 2. Where no advance has been drawn, the expenditure incurred shall be submitted within three months of the completion of the return journey. Delegation of Powers:- Administrative Ministry/Department concerned have been delegated powers to admit the claims with the concurrence of their Financial Advisor (FA) in relaxation of the above provisions subject to the following time limits without reference to DoPT: (a) where no advance is taken, LTC Bill submitted within a period not exceeding six months; and (b) where advance has been drawn, claim for reimbursement submitted within a period of three months after the completion of return journey, provided the govt. employee refunds the entire amount of advance with penal interest on the entire amount of advance in one lump-sum from the date of drawal to the date of recovery of amount.(Rule 14 & 15 of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988) [O.M. No. 31011/3/2015-Estt.A-IV dated21.12.2023]
36	Whether LTC journey is allowed on tour packages offered by various travel agents	Travel on tour packages is not allowed. However, the tours conducted by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), State Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) can be considered and only the fare component for a fixed destination by the shortest route shall be reimbursable provided ITDC/STDC/IRCTC separately indicate the fare component and certify that the journey was actually performed by the Government employee and his family members for which he/she is claiming the Leave Travel Concession. [O.M. No. 31011/6/2002-Estt. (A), dated30.07.2002 and 26.3.2008]
37	Are incidental expenses and expenditure incurred on local journeys allowed under LTC ?	No. Reimbursement under LTC scheme does not cover incidental expenses and expenditure incurred on local journeys. Reimbursement for expenses of journey is allowed only on the basis of a point to point journey on a through ticket over the shortest direct route. (Rule 13 of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988)
38	Is the taxi/ auto fare from the residence of the Government service/ other eligible family member to the nearest airport/ railway station/bus depot during the outward/ inward journey, is reimbursable	No. Local travel cost is not covered under LTC Rules (Rule 13 of CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988)
39	Is concessional circular trip tickets offered by the Railways allowed ?	There is no objection to a Government employee or his family members availing themselves of concessional circular trip tickets offered by the Railways in conjunction with the leave travel concessions. In such cases also, the official will be entitled to reimbursement of the fare for the entitled/lower class actually travelled by the shortest route. [O.M. No.31011/2/77-Ests.(A), dated 03.02.1979]
40	How will the claim of a Government employee under LTC to visit any place in India be regulated, if he purchases a circular tour ticket ?	If a Government employee performs the journey by purchasing a circular tour tickets from any Authorized Travel agents (ATAs), his claim will be regulated from HQ to destination (Home-town / declared place of visit) by shortest direct route by the entitled class of travel or actual, whichever is less.
41	Is reimbursement of charges for booking of rail tickets digitally allowed ?	The reimbursement of charges for booking of rail tickets through Internet/e-ticketing, booked through the website of Indian Railways is allowed for railway journeys undertaken on LTC
42	Are catering charges allowed while booking train tickets?	Wherever employees opt for catering services while booking the tickets for the eligible trains for the purpose of LTC, the reimbursement of catering charges shall be allowed. [O.M. No. 31011/17/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 10.08.2023]
43	Are the element of Service Tax, Education Cess and other similar levies being charged by Government on travel by Air/Road /Rail/ Steamer on LTC reimbursable ?	Yes. [M.F., O.M. F. No. 19023/1/2006-E. IV, dated18.07.2007]
44	Is tour packages conducted by SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports), to Lakshadweep Islands on the ships owned and operated by Lakshadweep Administration allowed for the purpose of LTC journey?	Yes. The tour packages conducted by SPORTS to Lakshadweep Islands on the ships owned and operated by Lakshadweep Administration are allowed for the purpose of LTC journey subject to following conditions: (i) SPORTS is offering various tour packages to the tourists, fare of which is charged as per the transportation and accommodation chosen for the destination. Only transportation charges shall be reimbursable for the respective tour package. (ii) SPORTS shall issue a certificate for transportation charges to the Government employees indicating the fare components separately and certify that the journey was actually performed by the Government employee and his family members for which he/she is claiming the Leave Travel Concession. (iii) Fare reimbursement for the journey performed by boat/ship shall be exercised in accordance with TA entitlement of the Government employee for journey by sea or river steamer. [O.M. No. 31011/10/2017-Estt. (A-IV), dated the11th October, 2018]
45	Is it compulsory to book tickets 21 days in advance for passing of LTC claims?	Employees are encouraged to book flight tickets at least 21 days prior to the intended date of travel on LTC, to avail the most competitive fares and minimize burden on the exchequer. [O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt. (A-IV), dated29.08.2022]