Despite the State bifurcation bringing down the number of passports processed every year, Telangana continued to issue a record number of 5.20 lakh passports out of 5.49 lakh applications last year, between January and December, with less than 2,000 pending applications.
“Pendency of passport applications is due to non-submission of certain documents by the applicants, and not because of any delay from our side,” said Regional Passport Officer E. Vishnuvardhan Reddy in the presence of Chief Post Master General B. Chandrasekhar at a press conference at Dak Sadan on Thursday.
Telangana, however, continues to be in the lead in terms of speedy processing and issuance of passports, with a record of just four days being taken for police verification. This has further come down to three days for applicants from within the twin cities, he said and thanked the Police Department for helping in speeding up the deliveries.
Mr. Reddy also explained the ‘unique collaboration’ between the two Central government entities – Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Posts of Ministry of Communications – that has helped in taking the passport services to the districts and closer to people obviating the need for them to come to the city.
“Two years ago, the External Affairs Minister had assured the Parliament that Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) will be opened at all the Parliamentary constituencies for wider coverage and we are glad to announce we have covered the entire TS in phases,” he said.
About 58,910 applications were submitted at various POPSKs, of which 58,710 have been issued, while 200 applications are pending. The POPSKs have been opened in Mahabubnagar and Warangal to begin with. It was followed by Khammam, Siddipet, Adilabad, Nalgonda and Medak in the second phase, while Bhongir, Mahabubabad, Kamareddy, Medchal and Wanaparthy were covered in the last phase. Site preparation was under way at Vikarabad and Mancherial, said the RPO and claimed that there was tremendous response from citizens to the services being offered at these POPSKs.
