SMS alerts for passport applicants

Chennai: Gone are the days when passport applicants struggled to get online appointments to submit their forms at the Passport Seva Ken­dras (PSKs) in Chennai.

Now, the applicants not only get audience the very next day, they also can track the status of the application online and through SMS.

While the passport office would send an intimation SMS about despatch of the passport, the applicants can also register for a premium SMS service paying '30 to get frequent alerts and updates on the application status and the various sta­ges of processing at the Seva Kendras.

“I am really impressed with the PSK for the hassle free service and lightening quick delivery of passport. The paid premium SMS service that gives instant updates on the status of the passport is a boon to the public.

Through the SMS service, I was given the cou­rier tracking number that helped me to be present at my home on the particular day of passport arrival. The SMS service also gave periodic updates about the police verification status,” said an IT company employee Sangeetha Mohan (28).

She added that getting appointments at the passp­ort offices have also become easy now. “When my relatives applied six months back, the queue was long and we had to opt for a date 15 days later. But this time, I got appointment the very next day,” she said.

Deepak Fernandez (25), a first time passport applicant added that the verification process was also quick. “I tracked the status of my app­lication online and lea­rnt about police verification. I also got an SMS about passport despatch. The pro­cess is fast if we have proper documents,” he added.

Meanwhile, the number of online appointments at seva kendras has risen to 150 per day from this month tot­a­lling to 1,800 slots every day.

“While the appointments are freely available, the continuation of walk-in applicants during early hours of office at PSKs hinder the smooth flow of applicants thereby leading to more waiting time.

So, we have discontinued walk-in facilities at Tambaram completely. At Saligramam, we have restricted walk-in facilities to only senior citizens (60 years and above) and physically challenged,” pointed out a regional passport off­ice official.