Out of 2.33 lakh applications for new passports in 2014, 2.29 lakh had been issued, said Regional Passport Officer S. Maniswara Raja here on Friday.
It was 23 per cent more than the previous year (2013) — higher by 42,595 passports. It had resulted in pendency of applications coming down by 21 per cent. The highest number of passport applications had come from Ramanathapuram district, followed by Kanyakumari district, he said.
The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Madurai serves nine districts.
Efficiency of staff
Mr. Raja attributed the higher number of passport issuance to the efficiency of staff at the passport office and Passport Seva Kendras in Madurai and Tirunelveli. A rise in awareness of online registration, and five passport melas conducted last year had also contributed to the increase in issuance of more passports, he said.
“Above all, the newly-launched Skype facility and other channels to redress public grievances had reduced waiting period of applicants. This year we have planned to conduct 10 passport melas,” Mr. Raja said.
As per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines, with effect from November 24, 2015, non-machine readable passports would become invalid. Hence, holders of old passports and those persons whose passports expire within a year should apply for machine-readable ones, Mr. Raja said.
There must be around 50,000 handwritten passports issued by the Regional Passport Office in Tiruchi, before Madurai RPO was established. Those having such passports may surrender them and get new ones, he said.
Common Service Centres
Those seeking online appointment with the RPO may use the 49 Common Service Centres in Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts.
The number of complaints lodged with the police over fake certificates attached with new passport applications had come down from 201 in 2013 to 157 in 2014, Mr. Raja said.
