Minister hails passport staff after 3.5 lakh passports issued

 Hyderabad: Union minister of state for external affairs and parliamentary affairs V. Muraleedharan visited the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Hyderabad on Wednesday. During his visit, he interacted with Regional Passport Officer and Head of MEA Branch Secretariat Dasari Balaiah, as well as the staff of the RPO. He commended their hard work in issuing 6.5 lakh passports in 2022 and was satisfed with three-and-a-half lakh passports being issued as of June 11, 2023. The minister hoped that that by the end of the year, the RPO in Hyderabad would set a new record by issuing seven lakh passports.

Later, the minister released the third edition of Bathukamma, a Rajbhasha Patrika, which included creative writings, paintings, and articles contributed by officials of the RPO and their family members.

He also inaugurated counters for accepting passport applications at the RPO's Secunderabad premises. Later, the minister visited the G20 Artefact displayed at one of the entrances of the office. He appreciated efforts of the RPO staff and officers in creating the artefact using waste materials available in the office.