The central government is likely to give permission to open a passport office here following repeated requests by the Manipur government in this regard.
Official sources said today that Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio, has written to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting it to set up a passport office in Imphal.
Hundreds of people, particularly sports persons and Muslims who go to Mecca every year, face problems in getting passports as they have to travel all the way to the Regional Passport Office at Guwahati.
Official sources said the Centre had expressed unwillingness to open a passport office in Manipur citing insurgency in the state.
