BSF D-G warns CAPFs, IB of stopping air courier service on routes with low utilisation

The order was issued on August 2 from the office of DG (BSF) by Deputy Inspector-General (admin) S A Shrivastava to all the nodal officers of Air Courier Service in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Assam Rifles, National Security Guard (NSG), NDRF and IB.

The air courier services for CAPF have been running since July 2010. Currently, InterGlobe Aviation Limited (Indigo) is operating the air courier service on all approved routes after Air India was taken over by Tata. Till last year, it was restricted to Jammu & Kashmir, North East and West Bengal. Last year, the government operationalised air courier services for CAPFs from Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh as well and a new service started, which runs from Delhi to Raipur and Jagdalpur.

“Air courier service helps personnel posted in remote or conflict zones to travel to the mainland with ease and without danger. Following the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs had authorised free air travel – on the Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu routes – for all rank and file of CAPFs through air couriers,” an official said.

“I have been directed to inform you that the percentage of utilisation of allocated seats of the Air Courier Service to various CAPFs for the last three months have been very low. Air Courier Service is a welfare measure provided by the Central government for the personnel of CAPFs, IB and NDRF. Therefore, utilisation of the services to its full capacity is essential as the money is being paid to airlines for the complete aircraft,” Shrivastava said in his letter.

“…As per instructions, if the utilisation of seats on any route of Air Courier Service remains below 60% continuously for three months, the service may be stopped on such routes. Kindly create awareness among the troops to utilise seats as per allotted quota to CAPFs, so as to avoid loss to government exchequer and also avoid reducing the frequency of flight or stoppage of service on such routes in case of less occupancy,” he said.