Speed post passport service extended to 1093 post offices

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) In an attempt to provide convenience to the passport applicants, the Government today expanded the Speed Post Passport Service (SPPS) to 873 post offices across the country, in addition to 220 post offices providing the service presently.

A joint initiative of the Department of Posts (DoP) and the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) was here inaugurated by Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

''We are committed to provide the best services to the citizens of the country and this is a part of it,'' Mr Maran told reporters here.

He further assured that his Ministry would fully assist with the EAM to make this service a success.

Mr Maran said this service would be available through the network of 873 post offices from tomorrow, in addition to the current 220 post offices providing the service.

In the next phase this network would be expanded to cover 2000 post offices across the country, Mr Maran added.

Earlier, Speed Post passport service was available in 220 Speed Post Centres/Post Offices across the country.

The DoP will accept passport application forms from the applicants on behalf of the EAM and after checking it, DoP will despatch it to the Regional Passport offices through Speed Post, Mr Maran said.

He said this service will be availed to get a passport for the first time.

Speaking on the occasion, E Ahamed said from now, there will be no service charge as this would be reimbursed by the EAM to the DoP.

Earlier, Post Office charged Rs 100 as Speed Post Passport service fee, which has now been dispensed with. The applicant will not be required to pay this service fee, except for the cost of application form and envelope and the prescribed passport fee, Mr Ahamed said.

He said a total of 37 lakh passports are likely to be issued in the current year.

Assuring the DoP, Mr Ahamed said the Passport offices' staff will impart basic training on how to fill and submit forms, to the post offices' employees.

Under this service, applicants now need not go to submit the forms to passport offices. Applicants need to go to the nearest Speed Post offices, purchase the passport application form, fill it and submit it alongwith the passport fee. And Speed Post will do rest of the process.

DoP has plans to submit the passport application forms electronically to the passport regional offices by next year, DoP Secretary Jyotsna Diesh informed.

In year 2001, EAM started accepting passport application forms through post offices.

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