Balmer Lawrie unveils air travel portal for armed forces

Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd of the petroleum and natural gas ministry has launched an air travel portal for armed forces personnel in partnership with the Controller General of Defence Accounts, the state-run enterprise said Saturday.

"The defence travel system developed in 2009 provided the facility for booking railway tickets only. The air travel module is an additional facility for armed forces personnel," Balmer Lawrie chairman and managing director Viren Sinha said in a statement here.

The system, which will provide efficient ticketing services to all defence personnel, is yet another effort to digitise the activities of the defence accounts department.

"The system will be leveraged to provide solutions for travel requirements of an officer on deputation and official journeys," said Indian Defence Accounts Service head Arvind Kaushal.

The air travel module facilitates transactions in a cashless environment and online submission of travel claims, thus creating a paperless and environment-friendly office.

"Security within the system should be ensured and a joint review mechanism should be in place to achieve optima results," Kaushal said.

Besides steel barrels, industrial greases and specialty lubricants, the company offers corporate travel and logistic services.

"We have been responding to demands of an ever changing environment, leveraging every change as an opportunity to innovate and emerge a leader in industry," Sinha added.