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New Delhi: Amid
reports of delays in online applications for passports and the
growing logjam, the external affairs ministry Friday announced
that passport offices in seven cities - Delhi, Ghaziabad,
Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Amritsar - will remain
open this Saturday-Sunday.
The weekend will see Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in seven cities
accepting around 28,000-30,000 applications.
The ministry also defended what it called the citizen-centric
online application system and said it has successfully completed
setting up and operationalisation of 77 PSKs in the country.
"In order to address unprecedented demand for passport services
during these months, the Ministry of External Affairs has decided
to open Regional Passport Offices, including Passport Seva Kendras
under their jurisdiction (Delhi, Ghaziabad, Bangalore, Chennai,
Hyderabad, Lucknow and Amritisar), on June 23 and 24," the
ministry said.
The applications for all passport related services "other than
tatkaal" shall be accepted during the 'Passport Mela', said the
ministry.
Taking note of reports in the media about applicants being fleeced
by touts and middlemen for uploading applications and arranging
appointments, the ministry clarified that the appointment system
has been introduced in keeping to make government services
accessible to the common man through common service delivery
outlets.
The process is aimed at ensuring efficiency, transparency and
reliability of such services at affordable costs, it said.
The ministry said it is improving governance in passport offices
by focussing on citizen-centricity, service orientation and
transparency.
The online application and appointment system at the PSKs was
aimed at cutting down waiting time for the applicants, but the
system has not worked for hundreds of applicants due to technical
glitches and other factors.
Under the new system, if appointments are not available and the
passport is required urgently, walk-in facility can be allowed by
the concerned regional passport officer.
To tackle the surging demand for passports, the ministry has
created an extra 400 appointments slots. With around 25-30 per
cent of people who are given appointments now showing up at
designated time, the ministry is also exploring the possibility of
fining the offenders.
Last year, the PSKs serviced around 7 million passports and
passport-related requests. The ministry has ambitious plan for 100
million passports over the next ten years.
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