5 more passport kiosks for Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: For Andhra Pradesh citizens who wish to get their passports done, there is some happy news. 

The Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK), that were launched some time back, are going to be increased in number for the convenience of the public. 

The launch of POPSKs was part of a joint scheme with the department of posts to extend passport-related services on a larger scale and ensure wider area coverage, by utilising Head Post Offices as ‘Post Office Passport Seva Kendra’. 

Currently, there are 3 POPSKs issuing passports in AP. Nellore, Kadapa and Kurnool Head Post Offices have extended their passport services through POPSKs. Now the passport authorities have identified five more places, as people from far-off places are finding it difficult to get their passports.  

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj recently said that the Central Government was continuously working towards taking passport services virtually to the doorsteps of citizens residing even in remote villages and that her ministry was adopting a citizen-centric approach for passport services. The plan is to launch a total of 236 POPSKs throughout the country.  

In AP POPSKs are expected to be opened at Guntur, Ongole, Chittoor, Anantapur and in Krishna district by March end. A full-fledged Regional Passport Office is also expected to start its services in about two months. Currently, the Vijayawada passport office services eight districts.

Annavajjhula Chandra Shekar, a resident of Ongole welcomed the ministry of external affairs’ proposal to incr-ease the number of POP-SKs which would help interior areas as well. 

Teegala Gopi Krishna of Chirala said, “If the passport kendra is launched at the Head Post Office of Ongole, it will be most useful for the students as there are several education institutions in the district. In the olden days it was a risky and lengthy process to get a passport and one had to go through a mediator. If POPSK launches at Ongole, the problems will be easily reduced.”

Vijayawada regional passport officer D.S.S. Srinivasa Rao told DC that the Vijayawada Regional Passport Office will start its services soon. 

“The five POPSKs will be launched by March end to serve people better,” said Srinivasa Rao. But he said that correct manning of the POPSKs is important and there are some problems with insufficient staff at the three POPSKs in Andhra Pradesh.