CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES CAN TRAVEL FIRST CLASS

Govt employees can travel first class from April 1
With signs of economic revival becoming more pronounced, the government has relaxed the austerity drive undertaken last year and from April 1, government employees will be allowed to fly first class. "The matter has been reviewed and it has been decided that with effect from April 1, 2010, travel on government account by air, both domestic and international may take place by the entitled class," an official statement said. Last September, in the midst of the global financial crisis, the government had directed its employees not to fly first class on government account, irrespective of their entitlement, and fly economy for all domestic travels. However, the government has not relaxed the austerity directive in case of Leave Travel Concession (LTC).-PTI