In a move to make passport services more accessible to citizens in remote areas, Joint Secretary for the Passport Seva Project and Chief Passport Officer at the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, launched the Passport Seva Mobile Van Service at Gauhati University, Assam on 12th July 2025. The initiative is part of the Ministry's ongoing "Passport Seva Aapke Dwar" program, aimed at extending passport services to far-flung rural and remote locations in the North Eastern region.
The newly launched mobile van service will be deployed across remote areas in the region, allowing citizens to submit their passport applications conveniently. This service is set to ensure the last-mile delivery of passports and related services. Currently, there are six Passport Seva Kendras and 19 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras operating across six North Eastern states under the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Guwahati.
Dr. Srinivasa highlighted that the mobile van is a "one-stop shop" where applicants can complete all necessary procedures for passport application submission. He also noted that one mobile van has been provided to each of the 37 RPOs across the country, with plans to increase the number of vans in the future.
“This initiative is a testament to the Ministry of External Affairs’ commitment to improving accessibility, efficiency, and user-friendliness of passport services,” said Dr. Srinivasa. “We are dedicated to reaching every citizen, especially those in the most remote areas.”
The launch event was attended by senior officials from the RPO Guwahati, TCS, and Gauhati University. The new service is seen as a significant step in providing better access to passport services for citizens living in hard-to-reach areas.
During his visit, Dr. Srinivasa also met with key stakeholders, including Assam's Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh, Additional DGP, Hiren Chandra Nath and Chief Postmaster General (CPMG), Col. Arvind Varma. He also took the opportunity to inspect the RPO and Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Guwahati, where he praised the efforts and dedication of all the officials involved in the process, encouraging them to maintain high standards of efficiency, transparency, and integrity.
This latest development marks a significant milestone in the Ministry's broader goal of enhancing accessibility to government services and bringing them closer to the people of India.
(DIPR)
