Passport issuance made more simple

Hyderabad, Jan 7 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Regional Passport Officer B Bala Bhaskar today said the Ministry of External Affairs had made some major changes and simplified the procedures regarding issuance of passports.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Bhaskar said the Passport Office had introduced a new 'Tatkal' passport service.

He said the applicant can apply for passport under the 'Tatkal' category and obtain a passport.

He said any person could get Tatkal passport services under two categories of passport services -- preverification and post-verification on verification certificate -- category.

He said Station House Officers of the police stations and Mandal Revenue Officers in the area of residence of the applicants would be authorised to issue a verification certificate under the new procedure.

The Hyderabad Passport Office had issued 4,00,000 passports during 2006 and proposed to issue 5,00,000 passports in this year.

He said Hyderbad Regional Passport Office was the first in the country to obtain ISO 9001-2000 certification and best passport office award for the year 2000.

The passport office was organising passport adalats on Wednesdays to address the grievances of the applicants and issue passports on the spot.

UNI