Pass Port Seva Kendra's - A happy augury. Review on Passport Seva Kendra

Pass port seva kendra's have become operational since the past three and half months. It has become a blessing for people who wish to apply and acquire an Indian Passport without the least of hazels.

Passport  issue has been outsourced. There are various seva kendr's easily accessible near their mohalla's or at a commutable distance. It is also proposed  to increase such seva kendr's in the due course after experiencing the response from the public. On introduction of this seva kendr's the main passport office may not accept for issue of passport other than diplomatic or Corporate.

In order to apply for a fresh passport or renewal of passport one has to go online to the passport website known as Pass Port Seva Portal.   One has to register himself with an id to log in. There are lot of instructions on the home page like, applying for a fresh/renewal/police clearance/document advisor, fee calculator and annexures and  affidavits to be  submitted in special cases.

After logging in one has to fill up the online application form  consisting of about 8 to 9 steps. This will open only for registered users. You can save all the details that you have filled in before finalizing your application for submission. You can also review and modify if required. But once you submit your finalized application you cannot make any   correction and you may have to proceed to Seva Kendra

's for correction which may perhaps be a laborious process. As all safeguards have been provided if one fills the form clearly there may be no need for making any mistakes. One must be very careful about the name given in the supporting documents for proof of date of birth, like surname and also the spelling which is most important  - as a wrongly typed name may be rejected instantly. I would recommend that you take less number of documents for date of birth  and address proof. For address proof the ' document advisor' among one of the documents mentioned requires for a bank statement for one year but alas does not require to provide a covering letter from the bank authenticating your address with your latest photo duly pasted and 'sealed' by the bank authorities. We had to get back for obtaining this and as one knows it is very difficult to get an appointment slot which I shall be explaining later.

You have to take xerox copies of the all documents you have to submit to the authorities and it must be self attested.

Once you fill up your application and finalize it then the process of finding a slot starts. The appointment slots are open only from== 6 PM.==  You have to hang on to your computer for about an hour from 6 PM to hook into this appointment slot. If you are applying for more than one person  ( only three persons can apply in a user id) it would be preferable that you create different ids so that you can get your appointment slot quickly. I have heard from people that only one person is able to get an appointment slot in the present system. As soon as one gets an appointment slot there is message displayed in red letters that there are no more appointment slots for you and you may reschedule your appointment later which means ONLY THE NEXT DAY you will have to log in and hook in. This is one of the most  excruciating exercise which I have experienced. This is probably perhaps the site being either being logged in by thousands of people or the agents who must be well versed with the art of hooking a slot.It also appears that hi speed internet may be a catalyst in hooking for the appointment slot quickly. Computer specialists may like to throw some light on this aspect.

Once you get the appointment slot  the slot displays only one day - though there about 9 days displayed all the days are indicated to be  complete - indicating about 5 to 6 slots in a day starting from 9 am and ending at about 4 p.m. You can choose one among them.  Once you create an appointment you have to immediately confirm the appointment by clicking the appropriate box. Your appointment date will be confirmed and you can go to your home page to  view the details. Once you take a printout one can view all the applications details including the date and time of appointment  etc.

Once you proceed to the Seva Kendra on the appointment date your entry is cleared by the security in charge and then you proceed to the preliminary enquiry counter where your xerox copies or checked with the originals and you are provided a token with a number say 5. The token sheet exhibits your appointment number and also indicates three counters - ABC and then Exit. You are also given your original papers along with xerox in a brown cover file. Then you are ushered into a entry gate a wicked gate - through which you pass and proceed to the A counter where your details are checked what is called by a CSE. If everything is cleared she feeds all details into their computer and you are also required to check the veracity of your name, spelling etc. before finalizing everything. Then you pay your fee there itself who in turn gives a receipt or challan.  Thereafter your photo is taken there itself and then your finger prints is taken. Your name as appearing in the passport is exhibited and you are required to confirm everything.  Then you proceed to counter B for another verification.. There is a giant computer board exhibiting your token number and the B counter which you have to proceed. There are about seven to eight counters in B say like B 1, B2, etc.,  After the check of the documents fed by Counter A with your originals the official directs to you to  the C counter where also there are about 8 counters. The official at the C counter finally clears your file and then you are instructed to Exit. At the exit counter you produce your fee challan and you are given a confirmation certificate indicating the acceptance of the application for passport indicating the details of the documents given etc.,  The process of feeding into the computer and verification takes hardly about fifteen to twenty minutes. However there about sixty to seventy applicants in a session. Hence the overall process takes about one to one half hour. There are lot of  executives to guide you to the counters and also to assist you. The whole  service is provided by TCS and there is   a APO from the Government who oversees everything.

One more facility in this online service is that you can track your passport application by logging into your id every now and then where it indicates the whereabouts of your passport application.  When everything is ready you are sent an email    and also an SMS to the mobile number indicated in the application form  indicating the despatch of the passport to your address.

The service has been in vogue for the past three or four months. The one and only hitch in this process is booking of appointment slot which may perhaps improve on opening of more   Seva Kendra's in future as it is proposed to be.