Visakhapatnam, January 2, 2024: The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Visakhapatnam has marked a significant milestone in 2023, with the issuance of over 1.98 lakh passports and more than 24,000 police clearance certificates (PCC).

This achievement, comprising 1,98,577 passports and 24,410 PCCs, represents a remarkable surge in demand, setting a new record for the office since its inception.

In comparison, the Vizag RPO had issued 1,71,318 passports in 2022. Catering to 13 districts in the state, the RPO plays a pivotal role in providing passport and related services.

The passport services are efficiently administered through a network of two passport seva kendras (PSKs) and seven post office passport seva kendras (POPSKs) strategically located across the region. With a total of 1,290 daily appointments for passports and PCCs, these kendras have been instrumental in addressing the growing demand.

Vishwanjali Gaikwad, the Regional Passport Officer, views this accomplishment as a positive sign that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have diminished.

The residents of Vizag are increasingly venturing abroad for work, higher education, and tourism. A surge in lucrative job opportunities globally and an uptick in Indian students being welcomed by foreign universities contribute to the rising demand for passports.

The Tours and Travel Association of Andhra predicts a further increase in passport demand in the coming days.

The challenges posed by the post-Covid demand were effectively met by the RPO, which, under the guidance of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), implemented various measures.

These included increasing daily appointments, organizing special camps and drives for passport and PCC applications, and addressing processing time challenges.

At the beginning of 2023, the appointment cycle for passport applications exceeded 25 days in several PSKs and POPSKs under RPO-Vizag.

However, by December 2023, the appointment cycle had been drastically reduced to just one working day at most centers. Processing time for applications received at POPSKs also witnessed a significant reduction to less than seven working days.

Vizag city's police chief, Dr. A Ravi Shankar, highlighted that the average police verification time for passports ranged between three to five days in 2023.

With 55,313 applications for passport verification, the police managed to dispose of 54,853 applications, leaving only 460 pending. Plans are underway to further streamline and reduce the time required for police verification, he emphasized.

In summary, the surge in passport demand in the Vizag region signals a burgeoning global mindset, with residents actively exploring opportunities beyond national borders.

The successful response from the Regional Passport Office indicates the adaptability and efficiency in handling the evolving needs of the community.

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