Finance Ministry asks ministries to buy tickets from Air India directly

New Delhi:  Finance Ministry has asked all ministries and departments to buy air tickets directly from Air India counters or its official website to save on payment of commission to agents.
"All Ministries/Departments are again advised that, as far as possible, air tickets on government account may be obtained directly from Air India/Airlines (booking counters/offices/website)," the Ministry said in a circular.
However, it said, if it is not possible to obtain tickets directly from Air India/Airlines counters, they may obtain the services of three authorised travel agents -- Balmer Lawrie & Company (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC).
The PSU travel agents are allowed to levy facilitation fee of Rs 100 per ticket for domestic sector and Rs 300 per ticket for international sector to book tickets on behalf of the government.
Read news in full 16/10/13 PTI/Economic Times