BS Post : 94, Date : 06.01.2014, Place : Mumbai, By : Mohammed Chand Shaikh.
The Regional Passport Office (RPO) Bhubaneswar has decided to resume 'mobile camps' in different parts of the state to accept passport applications from people.
The process was discontinued ever since the passport office made it mandatory to collect fingerprints of applicants since May 2012. "Since it was difficult for the mobile camp to collect finger prints from applicants, the practice was discontinued. Recently, a new device has been developed which is mobile and can take finger prints on the spot," regional passport officer Padma Mahanti told. "The device was having test run at some places in the country. We will start it here soon," Mahanti said.
Once put in place, the mobile camp will have citizen service executives, verification officers, granting officers, internet facility and various devices required for application data entry processing such as camera, document printer, scanner and fingerprint capture device.
"First, the applicants are required to submit the application form online and then print the online Application Reference Number (ARN) receipt, which must be carried along while visiting the mobile camp for submission of the passport application," Mahanti said. Sources said only 'normal' passport applications would be accepted by the mobile camp.
While applicants welcomed such hi-tech initiatives, they wonder if it would help them get passports quickly.
Mohammed Chand Shaikh
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