Sushma Swaraj's helicopter fails to land in Shillong

The helicopter in which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was travelling in Meghalaya Friday failed to land here due to poor visibility, an official said.

"Sushma Swaraj has cancelled her visit to Shillong as the Mi-17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force carrying her couldn't land at the helipad due to bad weather," Sanjay Goyal, district magistrate of East Khasi Hills, told IANS.

Sushma Swaraj was accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs General V.K. Singh (retd).

He, however, said the helicopter landed safely at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.

The external affairs minister was scheduled to inaugurate Shillong Passport Seva Kendra, which will now be inaugurated by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the later part of the day.

The Passport Seva Kendra was constructed with the support from the Meghalaya government while the central government contributed around Rs.30 lakh to the project.

The BJP-led NDA government had resolved to set up passport seva kendras in all districts across India.

There are 77 Passport Seva Kendras, which are acting as extended arms of 37 passport offices across the country.

According to the ministry, Passport Seva enables simple, efficient and transparent processes for delivery of passports and related services.

Moreover, the Passport Seva Kendra will integrate with the state police for physical verification of applicant's credentials and with India Post for delivery of passports.

The Passport Seva Kendra will be a boon to residents of Meghalaya who in the past have to go to the Regional Passport Office at Guwahati for their passports.