As the external affairs ministry gears up to issue around one crore passports this year through its 38 RPOs and 180 odd embassies and consulates around the globe, Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi, chief passport officer, clarified that there was absolutely no impediment in acheiving the milestone. Only China and the USA are the other two countries where over one crore passports are issued annually.
Addressing newsmen at the regional passport office here on Friday along with regional passport officer Dr Srikar Reddy, he said that the mee-seva model implemented in AP, which allows people to fill their online applications without the intervention of an agent is likely to be implemented across the country.
Regarding the police verification model started in the state, which could phenomenally bring down the number of days and paperwork involved, he said, “AP has shown the way.” He also informed that about Rs 103 cr out of the total revenue of Rs 1,600 cr was generated from Hyderabad.
In 2013, nearly 84.86 lakh passports and other related documents were issued compared to 73.8 lakh in 2012 globally, registering a growth of 15 per cent.
Srikar Reddy said Hyderabad tops the list of RPOs in terms of the number of applications processed and services rendered at 6.37 lakh and 6.3 lakh, respectively of total passport services in the country.
Visakhapatnam, with 11 days, tops the list of RPOs on time taken in police verification, he added.
A total of 7.84 lakh applications were received from all over AP and 7.76 lakh passports were issued. About 30 per cent of the total applications used to be in tatkal category two years back. Now, it has come down to 5 per cent. It is a phenomenal achievement and shows the efficiency of our services that most people do not go for tatkal anymore,” Reddy pointed out.
In 2013, Andhra Pradesh also featured at number four among the top 5 states in terms of number of passport applications received, and number 2 in terms of least time taken in police verification.
The ministry has also introduced online payment system in July 2013, and has led to noticeable improvement in the availability of appointments. mPassport Seva mobile app is also available for accessing information on smart phones.
e-Passports to be Introduced Soon
Rolling out the road ahead for passport services in the country, Muktesh K Pardeshi, the chief passport oOfficer, said that among the new initiatives a centralised bulk passport printing centre would come up in Delhi to assist RPOs and also fascimile signatures of the regional passport officer would be printed in passports in order to save time and effort. The new generation electronic passport, which aims to secure the data and curb the menace of fake passports, is likely to be introduced by next year, he said.The e-passports will replace the existing passport document with a plastic card embedded with an electronic chip containing all the details of the passport holder including bio-metric information, besides a Digital Signature Certificate of a passport officer, he explained.
Hand-held Devices for Constables
The trial for hand-held devices for police constables, enabling online police verification at citizens’ doorstep is presently on in West Godavari district and now it is contemplated to start it on a pilot basis under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate here and later to other parts. The all-India average number of days taken to complete police verification is 49 and about 37 pc of the PVs get completed within 21 days. AP has been doing the same in 17 days. ‘‘RPO would sent the details of the applicant to the user ID of the constables using the devices. The device integrated with the online system would help reducing the time phenomenally,” he said.
Referral site-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Passport-Issuance-to-Cross-One-crore-Mark-Soon/2014/02/08/article2045100.ece#.UwNiFNIW0sI
Addressing newsmen at the regional passport office here on Friday along with regional passport officer Dr Srikar Reddy, he said that the mee-seva model implemented in AP, which allows people to fill their online applications without the intervention of an agent is likely to be implemented across the country.
Regarding the police verification model started in the state, which could phenomenally bring down the number of days and paperwork involved, he said, “AP has shown the way.” He also informed that about Rs 103 cr out of the total revenue of Rs 1,600 cr was generated from Hyderabad.
In 2013, nearly 84.86 lakh passports and other related documents were issued compared to 73.8 lakh in 2012 globally, registering a growth of 15 per cent.
Srikar Reddy said Hyderabad tops the list of RPOs in terms of the number of applications processed and services rendered at 6.37 lakh and 6.3 lakh, respectively of total passport services in the country.
Visakhapatnam, with 11 days, tops the list of RPOs on time taken in police verification, he added.
A total of 7.84 lakh applications were received from all over AP and 7.76 lakh passports were issued. About 30 per cent of the total applications used to be in tatkal category two years back. Now, it has come down to 5 per cent. It is a phenomenal achievement and shows the efficiency of our services that most people do not go for tatkal anymore,” Reddy pointed out.
In 2013, Andhra Pradesh also featured at number four among the top 5 states in terms of number of passport applications received, and number 2 in terms of least time taken in police verification.
The ministry has also introduced online payment system in July 2013, and has led to noticeable improvement in the availability of appointments. mPassport Seva mobile app is also available for accessing information on smart phones.
e-Passports to be Introduced Soon
Rolling out the road ahead for passport services in the country, Muktesh K Pardeshi, the chief passport oOfficer, said that among the new initiatives a centralised bulk passport printing centre would come up in Delhi to assist RPOs and also fascimile signatures of the regional passport officer would be printed in passports in order to save time and effort. The new generation electronic passport, which aims to secure the data and curb the menace of fake passports, is likely to be introduced by next year, he said.The e-passports will replace the existing passport document with a plastic card embedded with an electronic chip containing all the details of the passport holder including bio-metric information, besides a Digital Signature Certificate of a passport officer, he explained.
Hand-held Devices for Constables
The trial for hand-held devices for police constables, enabling online police verification at citizens’ doorstep is presently on in West Godavari district and now it is contemplated to start it on a pilot basis under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate here and later to other parts. The all-India average number of days taken to complete police verification is 49 and about 37 pc of the PVs get completed within 21 days. AP has been doing the same in 17 days. ‘‘RPO would sent the details of the applicant to the user ID of the constables using the devices. The device integrated with the online system would help reducing the time phenomenally,” he said.
Referral site-http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Passport-Issuance-to-Cross-One-crore-Mark-Soon/2014/02/08/article2045100.ece#.UwNiFNIW0sI
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