Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) With the shutdown of the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in south Delhi creating anxiety among residents here, the RPO Friday assured that a new centre at Herald House in ITO will become operational mid-January.

The RPO clarified that it was in the process of implementing the Passport Seva Project (PSP) for the citizens residing within its jurisdiction viz. Delhi and neighbouring districts of Haryana (Gurgaon, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Nuh, Palwal and Rohtak).

The project envisaged setting up three Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) at Herald House,(ITO), Shalimar Place, (Pitampura) and Udyog Vihar (Gurgaon).

The latter two have already been established and are fully functional.

“PSK - Herald House is expected to be operationalised in mid-January 2012. In the interregnum, PSK Kaushambi (Shahibabad, Uttar Pradesh) is accepting applications from Delhi residents,? the RPO said.

The RPO, Delhi at Bhikaji Cama Place, which has shut down, is, however, accepting all Tatkal applications as well as ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) cases from Delhi residents on walk-in basis. In addition, emergency cases are also entertained at RPO, Delhi, the RPO clarified.

Till the centre at ITO becomes functional, residents of south Delhi have no option but to travel to Gurgaon or Pitampura to apply for a passport.

Paving the way for transition to a new system, three District Passport Centres (DPCs) at Shakarpur, Asaf Ali Road and Nehru Place will continue to accept applications from applicants without previous passports or with expired passports under general category.

The three PSKs have a capacity of servicing over 1,500 cases each day.

“The launch of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) is part of the government of India?s firm commitment to provide timely delivery of passport services to our fellow citizens,? External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Friday at Tirupati while launching seven PSKs in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the new system, the PSKs provide greater transparency in services since decision on application is taken at the PSK itself in the presence of applicant.

Under the new scheme, only applications with prior appointment will be processed at PSK. Walk-in applicants will be allowed only in emergency/medical cases. Applicants can visit PSKs after taking appointments by logging on to the website www.passportindia.gov.in .