Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 13: During his visit to the passport office here on Friday September 12, regional passport officer, P S Karthigeyan, instructed the local officials to hike intake of daily passport applications from the present 305 to 330.

Member of legislative council, Ivan D'Souza, met Karthigeyan during his visit and discussed various issues relating to passport issuance.

Karthigeyan revealed that passport Melas are planned to be held in the city on September 20 and October 11. He also told Ivan that he will take steps to provide all basic facilities the passport applicants will need in the passport Seva Kendra here.

The visiting officer said that the people will be educated about the documents needed to be provided along with passport applications at these Melas.

Karthigeyan revealed that discussions have been held with local officials to see that passport applications referred to police department for verification are returned within 20 days. He said that to streamline the procedure, discussions will also be held soon with top brass of police department in the state.

'We will be urging the government to further improve the quality of paper used for passport printing. Steps will be taken to provide sanctioned passports within three days, and to post additional staff to the passport Seva Kendra here, by taking up the matter with the union department of foreign affairs. About 60 percent of applications we receive do not need police verification report,' he clarified.

Officials of passport office in the city, Shakeem Begum, Chetan Urwa, Arun Crasta, and others were present.