Lok Sabha Question No. 486 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-20
Subject: Passport Melas
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KUNWAR SARVESH  KUMAR, RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.486 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2016

## PASSPORT MELAS

† 486. KUNWAR SARVESH KUMAR:

SHRI RAOSAHEB DANVE PATIL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the difficulties being faced  by  the  applicants  due  to  delay  in  issuing  of  passport  as timely appointment is not given by Passport Seva Kendras and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether passport melas have been organized by various passport offices in the recent past;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the details of number of applications disposed of in  passport melas separately;
- (d) whether there is any proposal to organise such passport melas in various  parts  of  the  country  particularly  in  Moradabad  in  near future; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a)     The Ministry has been working continuously to improve availability of appointment by taking various steps including organizing Passport  Melas  and  Passport  Seva  Camps  at  week-ends;  allowing 'Walk-in'    facility    for  certain  categories  of  services  such  as    Tatkaal passports,    Police  Clearance  Certificates    and      other  miscellaneous services and to Senior citizens (above 60 years) and  differently-abled

persons  for  all  services;  and  introduction  of  online  advance  payment for seeking appointment to minimize 'no-shows'. These measures have resulted in substantial improvement in availability of appointments.

As on 30th June 2016, out of 89 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), appointments  were  available  in  53  PSKs  within  1  calendar  day,  22 PSKs within 2 to 7 days, 10 PSKs within 8 to 14 days, 2 PSKs within 15 to 21 days and 2 PSKs from 22 to 30 days.

Comparatively,  as  on  1st  September,  2014,  out  of  77  PSKs operational  at  that  time,  appointments  were  available  in  29  PSKs within 7 days, in 11 PSKs within 8 to 14 days, in 11 PSKs within 15 to 21 days, in 10 PSKs between 22 to 30 days and in 16 PSKs beyond 30 days.

(b) & (c) Yes. Passport Melas  have  been  organized  by various Passport Offices in the recent past.  During January - June 2016,   98 Passport Melas have been organized on weekends by various Passport Offices where 59,749 passports applications have been processed. The passport Office-wise details are annexed.

(d) & (e) The Passport Melas would continue to be organized by the concerned  Passport  Offices  on  need  basis  in  their  respective  PSKs across  the  country.    Since  Passport  Melas  are  held  at  the  PSKs,  it cannot  be  held  at  Moradabad  as  there  is  no  PSK  there.    However, Passport Seva Camps can be organized if there are adequate passport applications from Moradabad necessitating organization of such camps.  One such camp was held at Moradabad on 29-30 November, 2014 wherein 166 applications were processed.

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## Annexure

## Number of Passport Melas conducted by Passport Offices, applications received and Passports issued during January - June, 2016.

|             |   Number of Mela | Applications Received   | Passports Issued   |
|-------------|------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|
| Ahmedabad   |               14 | 7,560                   | 7,443              |
| Amritsar    |                3 | 1,762                   | 1,370              |
| Bareilly    |                1 | 309                     | 304                |
| Bengaluru   |               19 | 20,556                  | 18,097             |
| Bhopal      |                5 | 4,848                   | 3,851              |
| Bhubaneswar |                3 | 1,151                   | 811                |
| Chennai     |                6 | 3,529                   | 3,209              |
| Cochin      |                1 | 723                     | 716                |
| Coimbatore  |                3 | 1,553                   | 1,498              |
| Delhi       |                3 | 1,359                   | 468                |
| Goa         |                1 | 42                      | 39                 |
| Hyderabad   |                2 | 313                     | 292                |
| Jaipur      |                7 | 3,011                   | 2,708              |
| Jalandhar   |               13 | 6,265                   | 5,476              |
| Jammu       |                5 | 1,391                   | 998                |
| Lucknow     |                2 | 1,144                   | 1,131              |
| Nagpur      |                2 | 1,164                   | 983                |
| Pune        |                1 | 1,195                   | 1,131              |
| Raipur      |                1 | 218                     | 38                 |
| Shimla      |                3 | 400                     | 385                |
| Srinagar    |                2 | 432                     | 330                |
| Thane       |                1 | 824                     | 770                |
| Total       |               98 | 59,749                  | 52,048             |

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