Hyderabad regional passport office to start 'walk-in' facility

 The Regional Passport Office here today announced a 'walk-in' facility for the benefit of certain categories of applicants who need not take the mandatory online appointment henceforth.

"We are going to start walk-in facility for 50 per cent of the applicants from August one. The applicants who would like to apply under 'Tatkal' scheme, applicants who would like to apply for police clearance certificates, applicants who are senior citizens, children below 15 years of age whose parents hold valid passports and also for physically-challenged persons," Regional Passport Officer K Srikar Reddy told reporters.

Earlier, applicants under these categories had to take online appointment for approaching the Passport Seva Kendra, he said.

Separately, the applicants can now get the online application filled in for Rs 100 at the 'Mee
Seva' citizen service centres of Andhra Pradesh government, Reddy said, adding the measure will eliminate the role of middlemen who charge up to Rs 500 for filling in applications.

"We are also providing additional facility through the 'Mee Seva' kendras who have come forward to do the online filling in of the form for only Rs 100. They will also get basic guidance on what are the supporting documents they need to carry for applying for a passport," he added.