Imphal: In a major step towards decentralising passport services and ensuring last-mile delivery in remote and rural areas, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has launched the Passport Seva Mobile Van under the “Passport Seva Aapke Dwar” initiative. The service was inaugurated at Gauhati University by Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, IFS, Joint Secretary for the Passport Seva Project and Chief Passport Officer.
Designed to address the logistical challenges faced by residents of the Northeast in accessing passport services, the mobile van will bring the entire process of passport application submission to the doorsteps of citizens living in distant regions. The van will operate across various underserved pockets of the six northeastern states covered by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) Guwahati.
Dr. Srinivasa described the van as a “one-stop shop” where citizens can complete all passport-related formalities, including application submission, biometric capture, and document verification. He added that for now, each of the 37 RPOs across the country has been provided with one mobile van, with the possibility of increasing the number to two or three per region based on demand and feedback.
Currently, six Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and 19 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) function under RPO Guwahati to serve the region. The launch of the mobile van is expected to significantly boost coverage and accessibility, especially in interior villages where people face difficulties traveling to urban centres.
The launch ceremony saw participation from senior officers and officials of RPO Guwahati, TCS (which manages backend operations), and Gauhati University. As part of his visit, Dr. Srinivasa interacted with key stakeholders, including Assam Director General of Police Harmeet Singh, ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath, and Chief Postmaster General Col. Arvind Varma. He also conducted an inspection of the RPO and PSK in Guwahati to review ongoing services.
Dr. Srinivasa later met Assam Governor Laxman Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, updating them on the MEA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen passport issuance and delivery mechanisms. The initiative has been widely welcomed as a significant move toward inclusive and citizen-friendly governance in the region.
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