PMO objects to free upgrades in

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) The Indian Civil Aviation
Ministry's decision to grant free flight upgrades and
facilitation to its former Secretaries has come under attack
from the Prime Minister's Office but the ministry appears
unfazed.
The PMO has objected to the Civil Aviation Ministry's
order of March this year which gave all its former Secretaries
and their "immediate family" life-long free upgrades on
domestic and international air tickets on Air India to the
highest class available and access to lounges at any airport
in the country.
Along with the order, the ministry had sent a list of
24 names of former Secretaries, who would be entitled to these
facilities.
Though the order makes it clear that these upgrades
are subject to availability of higher class seats and the load
factor, the difference between Economy and First Class tickets
is huge.
A Delhi-London economy class return ticket could cost
between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000, while First Class return
would cost around Rs two lakh.
In the wake of the PMO missive, a top ministry
official met Principal Secretary in the PMO T K A Nair late
last week in this regard and explained the Ministry's
position, official sources said Monday.
They said, as of now now, the ministry was not not
considering a review of the order.
The Ministry would shortly respond to a note sent by
the PMO to Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, who has sought
a clarification on the matter, they said.
In its note last month, the PMO had said it was
specifically concerned about the public message the Ministry
order would send when the government was infusing equity into
Air India.

The note said the order Could set a "difficult
precedent" as any former Secretary of a particular department
would want to avail privileges given to professionals in that
sector like Railways.
Earlier, Air India used to grant these privileges only
to former Civil Aviation Ministers and those of its Chairmen
or CMDs who had completed their tenure.
A former Chairman, P C Sen, who had not completed his
full tenure, even moved court to get the facility but had
failed, the sources said.
Under the order, the former bureaucrats would be
issued an Orange Security Pass to give them privileges of
protocol and escort services at any airport in India.
A Purple Security Pass was also to be issued to them
for facilitation at Delhi airport.
The Orange Pass would also allow its holder
unrestricted access to any area inside the airport, including
access to VIP lounges and VIP parking areas.
Through the order, the Ministry has asked the
agencies concerned like Airports Authority of India and the
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and airlines to "take
initiative from your side to get necessary papers completed
from the concerned dignitaries for issuing them necessary
papers/parking labels, etc". PTI ARC
KAB