Processing of passport applications hit at B'loreOne

Bangalore - Attempts to streamline the services at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) have stalled the processing of hundreds of passport applications submitted at the BangaloreOne centres.

Deccan Herald has highlighted several times in the past about the problems faced by the applicants submitting their applications at the PSKs and BangaloreOne centres. Although the submissions at the PSKs are beginning to proceed smoothly, it now turns out that the problems of hundreds of people who had submitted applications at BangaloreOne have not ended since June.

Since May 21, passport applications submitted at BangaloreOne were sent to the PSKs manually, where they would be uploaded with the help of a new software. However, trouble began when the software was unable to scan the applications. This was eventually sorted out, but the applications had started piling up.

Data not updated

Faced with daily calls from people who have not received their passports, the staff at the BangaloreOne are at their wits end. "Once we send the passport applications to the PSKs, our role ends there. If not for the calls and emails that we have been receiving, we would not have realised the magnitude of the problem," an official of Electronic Delivery of Citizens Services (EDCS) stated. Further, since EDCS in no way can determine the number of passports delivered, it is equally impossible to get a count of applications stalled too. But the number (of piled up applications) is easily expected to run into hundreds.

Adding to the confusion is the complaint that the file status of BanglaoreOne applicants is not updated on the website: passportindia.gov.in

As of now, BangaloreOne centres have taken to advising applicants that passports would take some time to get processed. "The applicants expect the processing to get completed in 45 days. We have no answer when it gets delayed," said the official.

Priority assured

EDCS is now speaking to the Passport office to speed up the processing of these applications. "The Passport Office has agreed to prioritise the backlog cases. Earlier, the applications would not be uploaded even after 10 days, but now they have promised to do it within a day," EDCS Director Chandrashekar said. Regional Passport Officer K J Srinivasa assured that the applications would be processed within a month's time.

"None of the applications have been lost, but lack of manpower and technical glitches had hampered the process of these applications. We have made the clearance of pending applications a priority now," he said. As of now, applicants from Bangalore One whose applications have been stalled may call up toll free helpline: 1800 258 1800.

Courtesy : Deccanherald

By : Nandini Chandrashekar, DH News Service: