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Applicant-friendly passport measures

     New Delhi: The Passport Office here has introduced several applicant-friendly measures for acquiring a passport. They include the following:

1. Across counter: This system was introduced for the first time in the history of passport offices in RPO Delhi. The officer sits at the counter and grants the cases straight away subject to certain usual checks. This cuts down on the delay that ensues from having to grant files at a later stage, which was the earlier practice followed, till this Grant accross counter came into effect from July 2005.

2. Introduction of the token system: This has made it much easier for the genuine applicants to make their passport application submissions at the RPO Delhi counter in a less crowded area since only the genuine applicants with tokens are permitted to submit applications at the submission counters entry.

3. Holding of the passport adalats: Quarterly passport adalats are being regularly held with effect from June 2006. The next one is proposed to be held on Saturday 23rd December 2006.

4.For the convenience of the public: An overhead shelter was constructed to shelter the passport applicants from the elements. Drinking water dispensers and soft drink stalls for the benefit of the applicants have been provided.

5. Online registration: An online registration counter has been started at the RPO Delhi. The online registrants can go directly to the online registration counter without taking tokens.Online registration ensures an applicant-friendly interface.Online registrants can go to the following link: https://passport.gov.in

6. Greater number of district passport cells (DPCs) : In additon to the existing DPCs, one was opened in Pitampura in January 2005 and the police authorities will, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, soon be opening one at Nehru Place. DPCs are where passport applications can be collected from the passport applicants for their convenience.Application are checked, accepted and forwarded to the RPO for registration and onward processing.

7. More Speed Post Centres: More speed Post Centres, now a total of 59, are in operation now, in consultation with the Postal Department and in cooordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.Applications are checked, accepted and forwarded to the RPO for registration and onward processing. speed Post Centres are so widely distributed that the apllicants need not come to the Passport Office merely to submit their forms.

8. Miscellenaeous services within the hour: Miscelleneous services such as spouse name endorsement, ECR status deletion and change of address are provided within the hour.

9. Separate counter for senior citizens: Seeing the plight of senior citizen applicants being shoved around by younger and stronger applicants, a separate queue at one of the counters was started for them to make their own submissions easier. However, we hope to soon provide the senior citizens with a separate queue at every submission counter at the RPO Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs - RPO Delhi has recently been alotted, by the Directorate of Estates, additional space in one of the buildings very close to where the present Passport Office is located. This will enable the opening of more counters on the ground and first floors of the RPO building at Bhikaji Cama Place while the processing units are proposed to be shifted to the newly alotted building where modification plans are already underway.

10. Present position of passport applications : Passport applications submitted in November 2006 with clear police verification reports are already under processing for immediate issue. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Regional Passport Officer Delhi will endeavour to speedily process the applications, while at the same time introducing apllicant-friendly measures where required.
-Dec 6,  2006

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