BeyondHeadlines Special Correspondent

The Pune Passport Office has decided to increase the appointment quota for normal as well as Tatkaal application besides increasing appointment cycle. The decision comes in the wake of hardships faced by passport applicants in the city.

Pune Passport Officer Narendra Singh in a release issued stated that Normal appointment slots fixed at 850 have been increased to 875 per day whereas Tatkaal quota has been increased by 10 percent. The Tatkaal quota has been raised to 110 from existing 100. The appointment cycle has been increased by 14 days. Earlier it was 42 days and now it has been raised to 56 days for normal quota.

The Passport office will also be organizing a Passport Mela at Passport Seva Kendra, Mundhwa on March 29 to facilitate applicants of Pune Passport office jurisdiction. The mela will be open to normal application only. Tatkaal, walk in, On Hold and Police Clearance Certificate application will not be entertained. The applicants will have to register themselves online at the site passportindia.gov.in, pay fees online and prior appointment on March 24 at 3 pm sharp.

Pune Passport Grievance Forum Vinita Deshmukh in her reaction said that Passport Department cannot take applicants for a ride and should deliver timely, quality and speedier service. “The online appointment procedure still needs some streamlining and our forum will ensure that it is done in a transparent manner, ” she said.