More passport-seekers in Gujarat go for the online procedure

Looks like more passport seekers will get the document faster thanks to the service going online. The number of passports issued by the Regional Passport Office in Gujarat for 2012 is more than that issued in the previous year. The online passport application service started on January 16, 2012.

Data shared by the RPO suggests that around 3,39,997 applications were received in 2012. Of them, 3,23,414 applicants received passports in the same year. Figures suggest that the RPO received around 3,28,543 applications in 2011 and of the total applicants around 3,19,746 received passports in the same year.

“This is because of the online service for passports at Passport Seva Kendra in Gujarat. As the application and appointment are given online, more people are included in a day. This has helped to cater to more people in 2012,” said an RPO official.

Owing to the rise in number of people receiving passports, the RPO has also registered an increase in revenue generation. In 2011, the RPO generated Rs 33.60crore from fees. The revenue went up to Rs38.17crore in 2012. “Apart from more people getting passport, the fee was also increased in October  2012. This has also significantly contributed to increase in income,” said an RPO official.

After going online, the Passport Seva Kendra in Ahmedabad has been ranked among the top two PSKs in terms of providing services in an internal study done by the ministry of external affairs.