HYDERABAD: Henceforth, passport applicants can pay the necessary fee online at the time of booking appointment on the ministry of external affairs (MEA) portal: www.passportindia.gov.in.
Till now, applicants were paying fee in the form of cash at passport seva kendras (PSK) while verifying the documents to process the applications. The new online payment system would come into force from July 1 at six passport seva kendras (PSKs) - Begumpet, Ameerpet, Tolichowki, Nizamabad, Vijayawada and Tirupati. Online payment system would be applicable for taking appointments at six PSKs with effect from June 28.
The online payment system was earlier tested at Visakhapatnam PSK on pilot project basis. Based on the response, the facility has been extended to six remaining PSKs, Hyderabad regional passport officer (RPO) K Srikar Reddy said.
Speaking to the media at the RPO on Thursday, he said that the online payment system would be applicable for taking appointments at six PSKs with effect from June 28. Explaining about the online payment system, he said that passport-seekers could pay the fee (Rs 1,500) online using credit/debit card or internet banking of State Bank of India (SBI). The applicants could also use challan mode provided on the MEA portal. The applicant has to deposit money at any SBI branch after generating challan online.
In such cases, on confirmation of payment received by SBI in online system, applicants can take appointment. Further, instead of the applicant choosing the date and time slot of appointment, the system would automatically give the earliest available appointment. "The applicant is eligible to take three appointments in one month or else the fee, paid online, will be cancelled. No refund will be given to the applicant," the RPO said.
Explaining the rationale behind launching the online system, the RPO said, "Since the past year, we have observed that a large number of applicants were not turning up at PSKs despite having a valid appointment. This was causing denial of appointments for genuine applicants."
Regarding police verification, the official said that city police were clearing verification in 21 days, while in other districts they were clearing between three days and three weeks. "Andhra Pradesh has processed 7.31 lakh applications and stands third in the country followed by Kerala (9.21 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (7.82 lakh) for 2012-13. However, the RPO, Hyderabad, stands top in the country in processing passport applications with 5.93 passport applications cleared," Srikar Reddy said.
The RPO has launched a probe against a senior official (director cadre) working at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on issuing 50 letters on his official letterhead in a span of six months to passport applicants who had applied under the Tatkal scheme. "The staff found a forged letterhead of the IX additional metropolitan judge, Nampally, which was issued to an applicant. The issue of forgery came to light only after the judge replied that he had not recommended any passport applicant. A case was also booked against the applicant and is under investigation," the official added.
A control room was opened at the RPO to monitor CCTV footage from all seven PSKs. Any applicant could speak from any PSK with the control room in case he/she faces problem with the passport staff. Srikar Reddy has received a commendation certificate from the ministry of external affairs, Delhi, for significant improvements in delivering passport-related services during 2012-13 at a function in Delhi on June 24 on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas.
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