Officials at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Amritsar have emphasized their commitment to providing passport-related services to the general public in a transparent, convenient, efficient and comfortable manner, following a protest by MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
According to an official statement, the Amritsar office has seen a significant increase in the number of applicants seeking passport services for travel abroad post-Covid. To address this demand, Regional Passport Officer NK Shil has implemented measures aimed at reducing wait times in the appointment cycle and improving transparency, competency, and services. These measures include additional appointments, extended hours on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, and processing of an extra 7,236 applications.
A dedicated workforce has been deployed to clear pendency and improve the experience and ease of processing for applicants, particularly those from remote areas, senior citizens, minors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, students, job-seekers and pilgrims.
Extra appointments are being given under the normal and tatkal categories at 5 PM daily on the portal to shorten waiting periods and accommodate applicants with urgent needs. The RPO is also working around the clock and organizing special passport fairs on holidays for the public’s convenience.
“This office has not authorized any agent or intermediary and does not entertain any third party.” “Applicants are advised to beware of touts, third parties, or dubious elements,” said Shil. “There have been reports of some people dressed as agents undermining the operation of this office. Our sincere efforts have been to deter such elements in their motives and will continue to do so.”
The Fraudulent Websites
The RPO also warned of fraudulent websites and mobile applications that collect personal data from applicants and charge additional fees for filling out online application forms and scheduling appointments for passport and related services. The official website for passport services is www.passportindia.gov.in, and applicants are advised to apply for passports and services only through this website or the mPassportseva app. Some of these fake websites are registered in the domain name .org, .in, .com such as www.indiapassport.org, www.online-passportindia.com, www.passportindiaportal.in etc.
(Inputs from Tribune)
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The Chenab Times News Desk