Andhra Pradesh : Vijayawada to Host New Regional Passport Office in January

Commencing January 2024, the vibrant city of Vijayawada will proudly host a new Regional Passport Office, conveniently situated in Governorpeta.

This development will bring a host of essential passport services closer to the people of 15 districts in Andhra Pradesh, encompassing passport printing, dispatch, administration, and policy-related services.

Regional Passport Officer (RPO) Siva Harsha Karra conveyed this positive news on Saturday, underscoring the Ministry of External Affairs commitment to this vital endeavor.A designated space has been allocated within the Principal Accountant General Audit (AG) office premises, adjacent to Mahatma Gandhi Road, for the Regional Passport Office (RPO).

Anticipating a substantial reduction in passport issuance time, Siva Harsha explained that the new offices operations in Vijayawada will significantly expedite the process.Currently, the Regional Passport Office in Visakhapatnam manages the crucial aspects of passport printing, dispatch, administration, and policy decisions.

Presently, passports are issued within 15 days following the receipt of police clearance.With the introduction of printing services in Vijayawada, this timeline is expected to further decrease.

It is envisaged that passports will be processed and ready for issuance within a week.Moreover, applicants will have the opportunity to seek clarifications about their pending applications by visiting the passport office.

While the new Regional Passport Office relocates to its upgraded premises, the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Vijayawada will continue its operations from its existing location, ensuring uninterrupted service, as Siva Harsha assured.Providing insight into the daily operations, Siva Harsha shared that the Vijayawada passport office handles around 2,000 applications daily, inclusive of those requiring police clearance.

Among them, 700 applications are sourced from Vijayawada Passport Service Kendra (PSK), 500 from Tirupati PSK, and the remaining 800 from the 13 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs).Highlighting the extensive reach of their services, the RPO disclosed that the Vijayawada office has served an impressive 3 lakh applicants up to October 2023.

Upon the full-fledged commencement of the new Regional Passport Office, additional administrative staff will be deployed to further enhance service efficiency.In this new setup, the Regional Passport Office in Visakhapatnam will attend to the needs of the north coastal districts, extending from Srikakulam to Eluru.

Meanwhile, the Vijayawada Regional Passport Office will efficiently cater to 15 districts, spanning from Krishna and NTR districts to Rayalaseema.Responding to inquiries, Siva Harsha announced that, going forward, appointment slots will be made available within a week of booking, down from the current 10-day window, providing an even more streamlined process for applicants.