Passport offices to be opened in Madurai, Coimbatore: Minister

Chennai, Aug 25 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said two more passport offices would be opened in Madurai and Coimbatore before the end of this year.

Inaugurating the third branch Secretariat of the Ministry of External Affairs here, he said these would bring passport services closer to the people of Tamil Nadu.

''Though most of the consular and passport services are rendered directly by the passport offices in Chennai and Tiruchirapalli, certain services, such as attestation of documents, are mandatorily required to be provided only by the Consular Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.'' ''With the opening of the Chennai Branch Secretariat, these services could eventually be provided in Chennai itself, thereby avoiding inconvenience to the people,'' he said.

UNI