Online police verification for passports in Odisha from July 1

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, June 17:

In an attempt to streamline the system of police verification for issue of passports, the Odisha government has directed the computerization of the entire process by July 1.

Reviewing the process at a high level review meeting at the State Secretariat here today, chief secretary JK Mohapatra said since around 80 percent of passport application comes from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar commissionerate jurisdiction, automation of the process in these areas will be focused in the first phase while the same process will be rolled out to other areas in phases.

It was revealed at the meeting that there has been phenomenal increase in the number of applications for passport.

In the last calendar year, 78,262 passports were issued through online system from Bhubaneswar office which was 53 percent more than the number of passports issued during 2012.

A target has been set to issue 1 lakh passports through the online system by the end of December this year.

With police verification made online, the process will be expedited and services will be provided in the least possible time at par with other metro cities of the country, the meeting decided.

Among others, installation of computers and software, engagement of technical hands, training of police personnel and other infrastructure support were discussed at the meeting.