Fast-track passport process: SMK to officers

“I attach very high importance to prompt, efficient and courteous manner of delivery of passport services. Passport officers are the public face of the ministry of external affairs,” Krishna said at a conference of passport officers here.

Krishna told the passport officers that their workload would grow in future as the number of Indians travelling abroad for various purposes like education, tourism and pilgrimage had been on the rise. The minister also directed the officers to  ensure that people visiting passport offices were not harassed either by officials or the agents.

“There are still large number of complaints received by emails as well as through letters. Be it harassment of people visiting passport offices by either officials or by the agents, be it discourteous behaviour at the public interface in the passport offices, or be it difficulties in accessing information or in meeting with responsible officials,” Krishna said asserting that “these problems should be addressed promptly”.