LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3354
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022
PASSPORT SEVA KENDRAS IN BIHAR
3354. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) functioning in Bihar, district-wise including Gopalganj;
(b) the details about the number of persons who availed services of these centres during the last three year along with the passportsissued/renewed;
(c) whether the demand for passport is rising in the Bihar and if so, the details thereon;
(d) whether the Government has planned to open more number of PSK in the Bihar and if so, the details thereon; and
(e) whether there is shortage of manpower and infrastructure facilities at POPSK Gopalganj in Bihar, if so, the reasons therefor and measures taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) At present, two Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) are functioning in Bihar. The Ministry in association with the Department of Posts decided in January 2017 to open Passport Kendras at the Head Post Offices (HPO)/ Post Offices (PO) in the country called ‘Post Office Passport Seva Kendras’ (POPSKs) in each Parliamentary constituency where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Under this initiative, 34 POPSKs have been made operational in Bihar. District-wise details of Passports Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in Bihar including Gopalganj are at Annexure-I
.
(b) Details about the number of persons who availed services at these centres in the last three years are as under:-
|
Year |
2019-20 |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
|
Number of Passports issued/renewed |
367908 |
161004 |
337408 |
(c) As may be seen from the above mentioned details demand of passport has risen from the year 2020-21 to 2021-22.
(d) The opening of Passport Kendras in various States, including Bihar depends on various factors, including distance from the existing Passport Kendras and volume of applications from a particular region.
(e) Manpower and infrastructure shortages, if any, are addressed on a regular basis by ministry of External Affairs/Department of Posts.