Passport shortage at Indian consulate

Dubai: Indian expats seeking new passports in Dubai have no option but to apply for jumbo booklets as there is a shortage of regular 36-page booklets since June 10. The cost of the 60-page jumbo booklet is Dh436 against Dh341 for the regular passport. An Indian Consulate official told XPRESS: “The India Security Press is in the process of enhancing the overall quality of passports and hence there is a temporary shortage of 36-page passports.” The official, however, assured that the 36-pager passport will be available by July 15. “If any applicant needs a passport before that, he could opt for a jumbo passport.” EXTRA cost But Indian expats renewing their passports were upset about having to pay the extra cost for the jumbo passport. A resident visiting BLS International, the agency that processes passport applications in Bur Dubai said: “It is bad enough that I have to pay a Dh30 fee for delivery, Dh9 service charge, Dh7 for SMS and a Dh10 contribution towards a community welfare fund. Now I have to buy a bigger booklet when I don’t really need one.” Another woman who was renewing the passport of her daughter said: “Why are they imposing the jumbo booklets on us at this time of the year? Summer vacations are here and a lot of us are in a hurry to renew our passports.” The Indian consulate official said the mission has issued 75,000 passports so far this year as against 175,000 in 2013. In February this year, Indian media reported that more than 170,000 applications were pending in various cities due to a shortage of passport booklets. Reports said production was stalled for a while because imports of laminated sheets needed for a few pages had dried up. Double laminations are a new feature of the Indian passport to boost security. Gulf News