It has processed 17,899 applications from residents of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar
India’s first Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK), established
in Mysuru in January, has facilitated issuance of more than 15,000
passports so far.
The centre, inaugurated on January 25 along with
a similar facility at Dahod in Gujarat on a pilot basis, has processed
17,899 applications from residents of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar
districts.
A total of 15,091 applicants, or 84.31%, have received
their passports. Of the remaining applications, 1,554 are awaiting
police verification and 1,254 have been kept on hold on
account of reasons such as non-submission of required documents, said
Bharath Kumar Kuthati, Regional Passport Officer, Bengaluru.
The
POPSK in Mysuru has simplified things for thousands of passport
aspirants in the two districts, who would otherwise have to travel to
one of the two PSKs in Bengaluru — on Lalbagh Main Road and on
Marathahalli Outer Ring Road — to avail passport-related services.
Initially,
the Regional Passport Office in Bengaluru released 100 appointments
every day. However, owing to the huge rush and public interest, the
number of appointments was increased to 130, Mr. Kuthati said.
The number of no-shows so far is 4,123 — 18.72% of the applicants seeking appointment at the POPSK, he added.
While
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the private partner with whom the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is implementing the Passport Seva
project, and the Department of Posts have deployed five persons each,
the MEA has posted one official at the POPSK.
The personnel check
the documents and capture the applicant’s biometric details. The
application is then forwarded to the RPO in Bengaluru, where the
decision on granting passports is taken.
Even though the
applications are processed at the POPSK, the passport will bear a
statement that it was issued in Bengaluru, as there is no granting
officer in Mysuru. The MEA is considering a proposal to post one in
Mysuru.
Though the POPSK in Mysuru does not offer either Tatkal or
walk-in appointments, applicants in Mysuru, in a case of emergency, can
book an online appointment in any of the PSKs on Lalbagh Road,
Marathahalli or Hubballi. “In deserving cases, on production of proof,
applications under Tatkal can be processed and the passport issued on
the same day,” Mr. Kuthati added.
Persons with grievances can
contact the RPO, Bengaluru, on Twitter (@rpobengaluru), Facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/rpo.bangalore), email
(rpo.bangalore@mea.gov.in), or telephone (080-25706100).
Forgot your documents? No need to worry
When
Arman (name changed), a student at a private college in Mysuru, turned
up for an appointment at the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK)
for renewal of his passport earlier this week, he was told that he had
to produce the original copy of his Class 10 marks card — something in
the possession of his college authorities.
He rushed to his
college, requested the authorities for the original marks card, and
returned to the POPSK with the document within a few hours to complete
the formalities on the same day.
The POPSK in Mysuru is a major
source of relief for scores of passport applicants who do not carry all
the required documents for completing the process. Instead of being
forced to reschedule their appointment, they are given a chance to bring
the documents later on the same day.
“If I had gone to a PSK in
Bengaluru, I would have had to reschedule the appointment and make
another trip,” a relieved Mr. Arman told The Hindu.
While
non-production of documents at PSKs often leads to rescheduling of
appointment, the authorities at the POPSK in Mysuru process the
application on the same day if the required documents are brought before
closing hours. However, the POPSK in Mysuru does not have the facility
to take photographs of applicants or make photocopies of the original
documents.
The applicants who turn up without photographs are
advised to go to a nearby photography studio and get the job done. It is
a similar case for those missing additional photocopies of documents.
“We are acquiring IT and non-IT equipment for the POPSK. Once it is
done, there will be no need for the applicant to carry [his or her]
photographs,” said Bharath Kumar Kuthati, Regional Passport Officer,
Bengaluru.
Source : http://www.thehindu.com/
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