Dear Comrades,
BHUBANESWAR: Passport seekers can now file their application at speed
post centres in the city and 53 other locations in Odisha. The receipt
of applications at speed post centres was stalled after introduction of
certain changes in the registration of online passport applications by
the ministry of external affairs in June.
"We have again given official codes to speed post centres by which they can accept applications. Applications for fresh passport will only be entertained at these centres," regional passport officer Padma Mahanti said.
Times of India
"We have again given official codes to speed post centres by which they can accept applications. Applications for fresh passport will only be entertained at these centres," regional passport officer Padma Mahanti said.
Recently, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) organized an orientation
programme for postal officials in Bhubaneswar to acquaint them with the
updated version of receiving online applications.
Unlike Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Bhubaneswar, the speed post centres will not capture the biometric fingerprints of applicants. "Fingerprint collection is not mandatory at the speed post centres. Applicants need to furnish matriculation certificate, birth certificate and address proof only," Mahanti said.
The RPO used to receive around 500 passport applications from all the 54 speed post centres every month. Out of the 54 centers, only 10 or 12 speed post centres in Rourkela, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Puri among few others were active. The rest were almost inactive as the RPO did not receive a single passport application from these centres. So the RPO has decided to start awareness programmes on passport service available at speed post centres as many people do not know about it.
It has also decided to give a fresh lease of life to the district passport cells (DPC) in 30 districts where applicants can submit their passport forms, akin to speed post centres and PSK. Though these were established five years ago, the cells are virtually non-functional for lack of awareness among the people. The RPO receives only 70 or 75 passport applications from all the 32 DPCs every month, even though a number of applicants from several districts throng the PSK here to apply for passports everyday. As many as 16 DPCs functioning at Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Malkangiri have earned the dubious distinction of not receiving a single passport application in the last six months.
Unlike Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Bhubaneswar, the speed post centres will not capture the biometric fingerprints of applicants. "Fingerprint collection is not mandatory at the speed post centres. Applicants need to furnish matriculation certificate, birth certificate and address proof only," Mahanti said.
The RPO used to receive around 500 passport applications from all the 54 speed post centres every month. Out of the 54 centers, only 10 or 12 speed post centres in Rourkela, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Balasore and Puri among few others were active. The rest were almost inactive as the RPO did not receive a single passport application from these centres. So the RPO has decided to start awareness programmes on passport service available at speed post centres as many people do not know about it.
It has also decided to give a fresh lease of life to the district passport cells (DPC) in 30 districts where applicants can submit their passport forms, akin to speed post centres and PSK. Though these were established five years ago, the cells are virtually non-functional for lack of awareness among the people. The RPO receives only 70 or 75 passport applications from all the 32 DPCs every month, even though a number of applicants from several districts throng the PSK here to apply for passports everyday. As many as 16 DPCs functioning at Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Malkangiri have earned the dubious distinction of not receiving a single passport application in the last six months.
Times of India
