JOIN USPassport Mela proves a hit among applicants
To expedite the application process in view of the high demand for passports, a ‘Passport Mela’ was organised on Saturday from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm at the three Passport Seva Kendra’s (PSK) of Lalbagh, Sai Arcade (Bengaluru) and Mangaluru.
As many as 2,600 appointment slots were made available on December 4 to register for the Passport Mela. Of these, 2200 appointments were in the normal category for PSKs in Lalbagh, Sai Arcade and Mangaluru, while there were 400 Tatkaal appointments for Lalbagh Road PSK and Sai Arcade PSK.
Applicants were asked to register online for the Mela on the passport portal www.passportindia.gov.in.
A number of other assertive steps such as conducting passport camps at the district headquarters of Karwar, Mysuru, & Belagavi; elongated appointment cycle, incentivising police to submit verification reports within 21 days, increasing daily appointment slots, launch of mPassportSeva App on Windows and Apple platforms and premium SMS service (optional) were taken by the authorities to make the passport application process hassle-free for citizens.
Applicants under the normal and Tatkaal category were allowed to apply at the Mela on prior appointment basis, while walk-ins, including on-hold and refused tokens of previous three working days (T+3 facility), were not entertained.
Applicants can easily keep track of their passport applications by checking the status online using their file number and date of birth on the passport seva portal.
The initiative was well-received as External Affairs Ministry officials and PSK employees assisted applicants by working extra hours.
Feedback
Feedback from the applicants showed very high satisfaction with the state-of-the-art infrastructure, technology upgrades to speed-up processes and improved amenities that ensured timely processing of the applications.
The Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru, has been conducting Passport Melas from time to time to ease the rush for passport services in the State.