Getting a new passport will be a lot more easier and quicker with the comprehensive overhaul of the Passport Issuance System involving a four fold increase in the number of application centres from the present 350.
In the next 19 months, 68 new Passport Facilitation Centres will come up in various parts of the country and applicant can get the passport within three days of police verification.
“The Passport Seva Project will result in delivery of passport-related services to the citizens in a time-bound, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner,” a senior External Ministry official said.
Under the project, government will outsource front-end activities to service providers,  who will set up facilitation centres across the country.
Re-issuing a passport, getting a duplicate passport or an additional booklet, or change in name would be done within three working days, while change in name or address would be done on the same day of filing of application.
However, these services will come at a cost and the service providers will be allowed to levy an additional fee over and above the government fee for each service. Also, the working conditions in the passport offices would be improved.