Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, Oct 20: "It is not possible to open a full-fledged passport office in Mangalore," said union minister of state for external affairs E Ahmed.
In a written answer to the question raised by MP D V Sadanand Gowda in the Lok Sabha, Ahmed said that as per the existing criteria, it is not possible to grant a full-fledged passport office to Mangalore.
As per the existing laws, any city should have received a minimum of 50,000 applications for 3 years before a full-fledged passport office. These recommendations have been made by the parliamentary standing committee for external affairs.
Since the city has failed in meeting this criterion in these years, it is not possible to alter the rules and grant a passport office to the city, minister wrote.