Berhampur: The passport verification appointment slots at the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) at head post office in Berhampur is likely to double from 50 to 100 daily.The proposal was put forward by postmaster general of Berhampur Circle, Vindo Kumar, in response to the growing number of applications at the centre. During a joint review meeting on Tuesday, regional passport officer in Bhubaneswar, Prem Singh reportedly agreed to the suggestion. Kumar assured to provide infrastructural facilities to the applicants coming from far off places, sources said.Increase of passport verification slots in POPSK was necessary as the applicants wait for about 10 to 15 days to get a slot. The applicants, not only from Ganjam, but also from the neighbouring districts of Gajapati, Khurda, Puri in Odisha and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, depend on this POPSK, sources said.“Presently, we have verified 40 passport applications and 10 police clearance certificates in the POPSK. Every day, almost all applicants came to the centre, as per their slots, for verification of the applications,” said an officer of the centre.Berhampur MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy has urged the Union ministry of external affairs to upgrade the POPSK into a full-fledged Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) with Tatkal facilities. Currently, the Tatkal facilities are only available at the regional office in Bhubaneswar.The applicants in southern districts of the state depend on the regional office. The load of the regional office will be decreased and the applicants will get quick services, if such facilities are available in Berhampur POPSK, he said. He also demanded a Passport Seva Kendra at Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district.
