Shobha Karandlaje seeks Passport Seva Kendra in northwest Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Shobha Karandlaje, the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and MSMEs, has sought a third Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Bengaluru to decongest the existing centres. 

In a letter to Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar on Tuesday, Shobha suggested opening a new PSK in northwestern Bengaluru. She is the sitting MP from the Bangalore North constituency. 

According to her, the PSKs in Lalbagh and Marathahalli see long queues and overcrowding through the week, resulting in increased pressure on the facilities and inconvenience to residents, particularly those from northern Bengaluru. 

The PSKs handle fresh passport applications and renewals, and related services. 

'Review NICE Rd toll hike'

In a separate letter to Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Shobha Karandlaje asked for reviewing the recent hike in toll charges on NICE Road. 

She said the toll hike, effective from July 1, was "arbitrary" and had affected all categories of vehicles. 

"The toll hike is likely to increase BMTC bus fares as well, especially on routes that pass through NICE Road, such as Banashankari, Taverekere and Electronics City. Despite collecting tolls, NICE Road lacks basic safety infrastructure such as proper road markings, reflector tiles at accident-prone areas, clear signage, and CCTV cameras," she wrote.