MADURAI: Passport Seva Kendras in Madurai and Tirunelveli would be commissioned next month, said Jose K. Mathew, Regional Passport Officer-Madurai.
Trial run of systems installed at the spacious and modern office on Kochadai Road here had been completed and staff members were being trained to handle the state-of-the-art system. These two Passport Seva Kendras were among 77 being established across the country.
The Kendras would transform the passport delivery system into a hassle-free procedure and also reduce time taken to despatch passport to applicants in three working days from the date of receipt of police verification. The Ministry of External Affairs had entered into an agreement with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for establishing the Kendras.
The systems installed at the new office were waiting for security audit by an agency from the Government of India. Once the checks were carried out, the two Kendras in Madurai and Tirunelveli would be ready for operations, Mr. Jose said.
Employees at the Kendra in Kochadai said that cable and wiring works had been completed. The audit was meant to ensure that the system was foolproof and could not be accessed by unauthorised persons.
Mr. Mathew said that the passport office functioning near the Lotus Tank on Bharati Ula Road in K. Pudur would continue to function as a back office. People could submit their applications at the Kendras in Madurai and Tirunelveli once they started functioning; the date of inauguration would be known after getting the audit compliance reports. The fee for obtaining fresh passport, among other services, would remain the same as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Madurai Region comprises Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts.
The Tirunelveli Kendra will serve residents of districts in the deep south.
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