Days after a terrorist attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama killed over 40 personnel, the ministry of home affairs has approved the entitlement of air travel on the Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of the Central armed paramilitary forces.
“The decision will immediately benefit approximately 7,80,000 personnel of the CAPFs in the ranks of constable, head constable and ASI, who were otherwise not eligible earlier. This includes journey on duty and journey on leave, i.e., while going on leave from Jammu and Kashmir to home and return.” said the ministry.
This facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs that have been steadily extended in all sectors by the MHA to help the jawans cut down on travel time during their journey to and fro from home on leave.
In the Jammu and Kashmir sector, it may be recalled that air courier service for CAPF jawans was approved for the Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu sector.
Subsequently, the service was extended to cover Delhi-Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Jammu and Jammu-Delhi sectors in December 2017. The number of flights were further extended in December 2018.
In addition, air support is provided by the Indian Air Force as and when required.
