"Yes, we have now 77 additional Passport Sewa Kendras (PSK) over and above the 40 we have had for a long time and we are going before the cabinet for having more passport kendras. That is in the pipeline," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said.
He was talking to reporters during a surprise visit to a passport centre here to check the facilities available for the common people.
Sources said the country will have 350 post offices which will employ ex-servicemen to help the illiterate and collate documents and help in applying on-line for a fee of Rs 100.
Such facilities will be helpful in rural areas as these will eliminate middlemen, they said.
During the visit, the Minister talked to the people and heard their complaints.
After hearing a complaint from a social activist about problems faced by the illiterate people in getting passports, he instructed the Additional Secretary-concerned in to address the issue.
Listening to a lady, who had come to the centre for a passport for her 3-month-old infant and complained about policemen asking for bribe to verify passport documents, Krishna said, "Don't give any bribe. All these measures are being taken to ensure elimination of middlemen."
The Minister commended the efforts of the Government and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) staff who had worked for seven days continuously for the passport fair organised at the ITO centre.
