Kozhikode: More than 1000 people in North Kerala became passport owners after the Malabar Regional Passport Office launched the mobile passport office services, around seven months ago. The regional office started the service as part of the Mobile Passport Seva project, which aimed to deliver passports on time to the customer’s doorstep. The mobile passport office touring Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts associates with various local self-government offices, post offices and other government entities to ensure passport services even in the remote villages.

The mobile passport office vehicle collects passport applications and is parked in the panchayat office or the post office premises. The applicant can thus save time and effort as they are not required to travel to the passport regional office to apply. This centre provides all kinds of services related to new applications. After a successful application and subsequent police verification, the passport would be delivered to the doorstep within days. The project has completed over 100 camps in Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad and Malappuram districts in the last seven months. Currently, the mobile passport office is stationed at Thamarassery in Kozhikode. Meanwhile, the vehicle will camp at various places in the district in the coming days.

Facilities inside the vehicle
The vehicle is equipped with biometric facilities to receive and evaluate the applications. The applicant's photo can also be taken inside the car. Two employees from the Passport Seva Kendra have been appointed to receive the applications, and an officer conducts the verification process.

Applications at panchayat
Besides the panchayat, taluk, and post office, other institutions of a similar nature can also apply for the mobile passport van to be brought to their office premises. The application for this has to be given to the Kozhikode regional passport officer. After approval has been granted by the Central Passport Organisation, the name and location of the panchayat or the applicant office would be available in the ‘van option’ link in the portal.

ADVERTISEMENT

How to apply
1) The passport should be applied for via the online Passport Seva portal by the central government.
2) The website mentions all the districts in North Kerala, from Malappuram to Kasargod. The list also includes Mahe, a union territory.
3) There will be a ‘van option’ along with the names of the district.
4) The location of the mobile passport seva van at each district is available in the ‘van option’ link. The applicant should then register and book a slot.
5) The date, location and other details would be exhibited at the panchayat and post offices.
6) Up to 30 – 45 applications would be received and processed in the van during each camp.    

TAGS

Google News Add as a preferred source on Google
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.