New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has expressed its displeasure over a Central government directive which makes it mandatory for athletes to travel only by official carrier Air India or its alliance partner. SAI maintains the directive has led to a situation where tickets can be booked only through official travel agents Balmer Lawrie and Co Ltd, whose tickets rates are higher than those available in open market.
TOI found that two wrestlers, Devvrath (120kg) and Gurpal Singh (96kg), bought tickets for training purposes to Colorado Springs, US at a much cheaper price than the amount quoted by Balmer Lawrie. Both are travelling for a fortnight-long training-and-competition programme at 'no cost to the government'.
Devvrath is paying Rs 1,04,000 for to-and-fro travel by a private airline while the tickets generated by Balmer Lawrie for the rest of the Indian contingent, who are travelling at the government's expense, were quoted at Rs 2,27,700 per person (for 13 freestyle wrestlers), Rs 2,23,510 per person (12 Greco-Roman) and Rs 2,77,110 per person for 12 women grapplers. The team left on January 16 and will return on February 3.
20/01/14 Ritu Sejwal/Times of India
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TOI found that two wrestlers, Devvrath (120kg) and Gurpal Singh (96kg), bought tickets for training purposes to Colorado Springs, US at a much cheaper price than the amount quoted by Balmer Lawrie. Both are travelling for a fortnight-long training-and-competition programme at 'no cost to the government'.
Devvrath is paying Rs 1,04,000 for to-and-fro travel by a private airline while the tickets generated by Balmer Lawrie for the rest of the Indian contingent, who are travelling at the government's expense, were quoted at Rs 2,27,700 per person (for 13 freestyle wrestlers), Rs 2,23,510 per person (12 Greco-Roman) and Rs 2,77,110 per person for 12 women grapplers. The team left on January 16 and will return on February 3.
20/01/14 Ritu Sejwal/Times of India
