Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 28: Regional passport officer from the city, Kartikeyan, announced that the time taken for police verification in case of issuance of passports has been reduced to 23 days from the previous 43. This has been done to simplify and hasten the passport distribution process, he clarified.

Addressing a press conference at the regional passport centre at Koramangala here on Wednesday May 27, Kartikeyan explained that in the past, the process of police verification took about 43 days from the date of submission of passport applications. 'This time has now been brought down to 23 days. By the end of this year, this period will be further reduced to ten days,' he claimed.

He explained that the time consumed for police verification has direct bearing on the time taken for processing of passport applications and issuance of passports. 'Keeping this in mind and to reduce delay in passport issuance, police verification time has been pruned down. For the first time in our history, we are giving appointments for the very next day since passport applications are filed. In the past, appointments were given in about 40 to 45 days time after submission of applications. We aim at completing all the processes relating to passport issuance within 14 days of receipt of applications,' he said.

The officer said that under Passport Sevamitra scheme, degree students are being given internships in passport centres. 'For this internships, which extend to about four to five weeks, students who have earned degrees from recognized educational institutions have to file applications before May 31. Applications are available at www.passportindia.gov.in, he explained.