Srinagar, March 30: Central Reserve Police (CRPF) top barass’s decision  to get aerial travel for its personnel including those who were  not entitled sanctioned from.the high command  has proved to be a major “morale-booster” for the central forces.

The move has resulted in the less dependency on road traffic and considerable decrease in the “threat perception” to its CRPF convoys.

Ever since the ministry of home affairs (MHA) approved the air travel for the all ranks of the force who were earlier not entitled for the same, the development has on one hand resulted in the heavy load on the CRPF’s budget as the forces personnel travelling by air would be reimbursed the amount after submitted his/her ticket to the superiors.

However, according to the top officials of CRPF, the Government of India’s decision to allow all the forces personnel to travel by air from Delhi-to Jammu to-Srinagar has deceased the convoy frequency on roads by 60 per cent.

“Every month, hundreds of forces personnel go on leave and return as well. It was a hectic procedure but the air-travel has reduced all the pressures on both, the top officers as well as the constables,” a senior CRPF officer told KNO.

“Earlier, the forces personnel, who were supposed to return from their home states to J&K to resume duties, had to wait for vehicles in Jammu base first and then proceed towards Srinagar. Their travel was a hectic procedure as at times, they were forced to wait till others reach and the vehicles has fully occupancy.”

As per the estimates of CRPF, at least 1200 of its men would travel by air to and from Delhi to Srinagar every day. The plea to seek approval of MHA for air-travel of CRPF personnel was a collective decision of top CRPF brass taken after the deadly Lethpora, Pulwama suicide attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF men on February 14.

“We are not much dependent on travel by road. Our convoy frequency on roads has considerably gone down as all those on leave or wanting to go home on leave are opting for aerial journey,” inspector general of CRPF, Ravideep Singh Sahi told KNO.

“This way, we are feeling relaxed as there was many benefits of travelling by air. Now CRPF men prefer aerial route to reach their homes or to resume duties after their leaves are over, frequency of convoys on roads is not more than 50 per cent now.”

Sources in the CRPF said that the less flow of CRPF convoys on roads will result in less attacks on the force. “Above all there would be a sense of security for the CRPF men travelling by air though they are supposed to board vehicles from the airport to reach their respective units,” they said