Hyderabad: Nizamabad passport seva kendra (PSK) has emerged as the largest passport seva centre (outside Hyderabad) in the state, handling around 400 appointments daily. This increase is attributed to people in interior Telangana districts becoming aspirational to go abroad. On the other had, in post office PSKs, Warangal leads the way with over 120 appointments a day from around 80 earlier.
Regional passport officer (RPO) Snehaja Jonnalagadda attributes this surge to increasing opportunities abroad and growing awareness among rural population. “We’ve seen a significant shift in the demographic applying for passports. More people from rural backgrounds are also now seeking opportunities abroad,” she said.
The office streamlined its processes to handle the increased volume. “Our staff is processing applications more efficiently than ever before. We’ve reduced the waiting time considerably, with most applicants receiving an appointment date within a couple of days,” the RPO explained.
The majority of applicants are young professionals and students, with a notable increase in applications from rural areas. “Most applicants are first-time passport holders, indicating a growing trend of international mobility in the region,” Jonnalagadda said.
To manage the increased footfall, the passport office also streamlined its staff and gave priority to post office PSKs. “Every day we process 4,000 applications in Hyderabad, and within 20 working days, we are able to process 60,000 to 70,000 passports monthly across the state,” she added.
