Odisha CM demands two more Passport centres in state

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 2:

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today for the second time requested the Centre for establishment of two new Passport Seva Kendras in the state.

“…..I would request once again to take steps for establishment of two additional Passport Seva Kendras in the state, one at Sambalpur and another at Brahmapur which will help the citizens of my state to a great extent in obtaining Passport services”, the chief minister said in a letter to Union External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

This is the second time Patnaik has written to the Centre asking for opening of two Passport Seva Kendras in the state, one at Sambalpur and another at Brahmapur.

Patnaik said as there is one Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in the state capital serving 30 geographically dispersed districts, the people of western and southern districts of the state are facing immense difficulties for obtaining the passport.

“With the expansion of opportunities for mobility across borders for education, tourism and business, there is substantial increase in the demand for passport services. During the year 2014, at about one lakh passports have been issued by the Passport Seva Kendra functioning in the state capital ,” he noted.

Keeping in view the geographical distance of western and southern districts of the state and increase in the demand for passport services, the chief minister said he had requested former Union External Affairs minister on July 22, 2012 to take immediate action for setting up one regional Passport Seva Kendra at Sambalpur to serve the districts of western Odisha and another one at Berhampur for the districts of southern Odisha.

It was also intimated therein that by the establishment of two Passport Seva Kendras, the average travelling distance of the districts located in the western and southern parts of the state will be substantially reduced, Patnaik added.

Patnaik lamented that response in this regard is still awaited.