Centre dedicated to passport applications

As an extension of the 'Speed Post Passport Service' launched jointly by the Department of Posts and the Ministry of External Affairs, the postal department has dedicated the common service centre at its Begumpet post office to the sale and acceptance of passport applications.

"We want to ease the rush at the regional passport office and facilitate greater customer convenience. We also propose to add payment of insurance premium, telephone, electricity, water and property tax bills and mutual funds retailing to the centre. However, our major thrust will be on selling and processing passport applications," Yesodhara Menon, chief postmaster general, Andhra Pradesh Circle, told mediapersons here on Wednesday.

The centre, which would be open from 10 am to 6 pm six days a week, would upload the applications to the regional passport office the same day. Besides, it will accept cash payment towards passport fee.

The centre will be manned by six professionals and expects around 500 applications a day, she added. The regional passport office issues around 400 tokens per day while the e-Seva centres in the city put together sell an equal number of applications.

The passport office is also contemplating handing over the passport renewal service to the postal department soon.

"After assessing the response to the Begumpet centre, we propose to start another common service centre in our premises at Pattargatti in the Old City to cater to the needs of people going for religious and job opportunities to countries of West Asia," Menon said.