Passport rush at tier-2 cities

Mangalore Today News Network

April 30: It’s a mad race out there for getting that coveted passport. And it’s not just urban folk but citizens from tier-2 cities too who are flocking to passport offices. Sample this: Mangalore gets 375 applications per day while Hubli and Gulbarga together get around 300 applications a day.

"We do not know the exact reasons. It could be because those from tier-2 cities now have more work opportunities abroad. Naturally, the requirement for skilled labour abroad, especially in the Middle East, will go up,’’ regional passport officer N S Srinivasa said.

Thus, the passport applications intake in these offices will now go up to meet the demand. Soon, passport application offices in Mangalore will receive 25 more applications every day, while the increase in the number will be decided for Hubli and Gulbarga too, Srinivasa said.

The scene in Bangalore is similar. The passport seva kendras on Lalbagh Road and Marathalli Ring Road receive 1,600 applications every day which has left authorities flummoxed. "I don’t know why there has been such high demand for a passport among Bangaloreans in the past one year. We have decided to increase the intake to 1,800 applications. The Lalbagh office which takes 900 applications a day will take 150 more now. Marathahalli which gets about 700 applications every day will receive 50 more," Srinivasa said.

No More Speed Post Applications
As part of acclimatizing to the new passport processing system, the receiving of passport applications through speed post has been suspended. The passport office earlier stopped the filing of application through BangaloreOne centres. This has been initiated to regularize the new processing system.

"Earlier, as per the National Informatics Commission procedure, we had to scan each application received and then fill the data manually. In case of speed post applications, if there are any documents missing or any other errors we will have to send the application back and ask the applicant to furnish it again. In the new system, the applicant has to be physically present, which eliminates these errors as the information is filed in front of the applicants," Srinivasa said.

According to him, scrapping of the speed post application would provide the passport seva kendras with the much-needed manpower.

A Problem for those in rural Areas?
Dismissing complaints that suspending speed post facility would cause great inconvenience to those applying for passport from rural areas, Srinivasa said it will not create a problem for them. "Everyone need not come to Bangalore to file the application. There are centres in five districts and people could approach the nearest one.’’

Figure It Out

Mangalore: 375 applications per day

Hubli, Gulbarga: 300 per day

Bangalore: 1,600 per day.

TOI