Getting a passport, especially in the hinterland, would be more easier now as the External Affairs Ministry and Department of Post have joined hands for better facilitation of the travel document.
The government has short-listed 40 post offices in the country, which could be used for availing passport. These post offices would serve as a single point centre to get passports, apart from the existing capacity.
The pilot project between the MEA and DOP will kick start in Mysuru in Karnataka and Dahod in Gujarat tomorrow.
"The service will be started in a phased manner and we have chosen 40 post offices in the first phase. We will try to take it to maximum districts.
"The officers from the postal department would be specially trained on the processes involved," Manoj Sinha, Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Communications, said.
Sinha, however, declined to name the centres as some of it include post offices in poll-bound states and publicising it would mean violation of Model Code of Conduct.
At present, there are 89 Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) across the country as extended arms of 38 Passport Offices.
"There was a demand to have more centres that can deliver passports, without people requiring to travel long distances.
"Our aim is to open such services in head post offices of every district, so that people don't have to travel much," MoS in the Ministry of External Affairs V K Singh said.
Dyaneshwar Muley, Secretary, Consular, Passport and Visa Division, said under the new scheme, officials from the postal department would be executing work done by passport officials as per the Passport Act.
Over the years, there has been an expansion in the volume of passport related services. Last year the ministry rendered 1.5 crore passports.
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