Applicants face delay in passport services

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, July 3

The normal functioning at Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across the state, including in Kullu, has been badly affected since the nationwide lockdown.

Since many formalities are completed via the biometric system, the authorities immediately stopped all operations at these kendras to check the spread of the virus. However, operations were resumed in Shimla after May 5. Wearing a mask, carrying sanitiser, social distancing and the installation of Aarogya Setu app has been made mandatory for all visitors at the kendra.

Gunal Khullar, a resident of Kullu, said his passport was to be renewed. However, in the absence of service resumption here, he would have to visit Shimla to get his passport renewed. Due to the closure of hotels, the entire process would have to be completed within one day. While the operations at POPSKs remained suspended indefinitely due to the pandemic, it had become cumbersome for the applicants to avail the passport services, he added.

PSKs were opened in the head post offices of various districts in 2017 to facilitate the residents to apply passport in their respective districts. These kendras eased the workload of the PSK, Shimla, and helped people avail services on their doorstep.