Mangalore: Long queues in front of Passport Seva Kendra

Mangalore: Long queues in front of Passport Seva Kendra

Mangalore Today News Network

Special Report by Shreelatha Nayak

Mangalore, May 26: The full-fledged air-conditioned Passport Seva Kendra, which was recently launched at Navabharat Circle, doesn’t appear to be meeting public expectations. The service, which claimed to issue passports within 4 days of applying, doesn’t seem to be keeping its word. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Passport Seva Kendra earlier claimed that it would issue passports within 4 days of receipt of applications, as long as police verification was not required. It also claimed that it will dispatch tatkal passports on the same day. However, Ajith Aithal of Panambur, complains that the service takes days just to receive the application. He added that he had to miss class and wait in the queue for days to just submit the application. 

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who visited the service, to verify its proper function, assured that he would arrange shamiyana and chairs for the public so that they could wait in comfort till it was their turn to enter the office. However, no such arrangements have been made for the public, said Farooq, a driver from Karkala. 

The only facility available to the public is drinking water. The service claimed that the first 80 people will receive a token; however the office closed at 12 p.m. after giving application numbers just to a few. 

Shafeena from Hathill, who was standing in queue, told to Mangaloretoday  that the queue takes a long time to move forward, adding that it was very difficult to wait in the hot sun for hours altogether with the children.