New Delhi: The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Hyderabad and the Telangana Police have been nationally recognised for their exemplary service in passport delivery and citizen engagement.
The honours were presented during the ongoing Regional Passport Officers’ Conference 2025, being held in New Delhi from June 23 to 25.
Awards presented on Passport Seva Diwas
Marking the 13th Passport Seva Diwas on June 24, the Ministry of External Affairs presented awards to high-performing offices and departments.
Hyderabad’s RPO was conferred the award for ‘Innovative Steps and Citizen-Centric Initiatives Undertaken during 2024–25.’
The award was presented by Pabitra Margherita, minister of State for External Affairs and received by Jonnalagadda Snehaja, IFS, regional passport officer, Hyderabad.
The Telangana Police was also felicitated for its consistent excellence in passport verification and facilitation. Battula Shivadhar Reddy, IPS, Director General (Intelligence), accepted the honour on behalf of the State police.
Citizen-centric reforms at RPO Hyderabad
The award recognised a wide array of forward-looking initiatives by RPO Hyderabad over the past year. These include:
– Thursday walk-in grievance sessions for resolving public complaints directly.
– A large-scale Swachhata campaign to upgrade and maintain office cleanliness.
– Launch of a commemorative passport envelope celebrating 75 years of the Indian Constitution.
– A year-long art and calligraphy exhibition on the Constitution, inaugurated by the governor.
– Public engagement through cyber awareness campaigns, health camps, and targeted outreach to vulnerable groups.
– Introduction of rainwater harvesting to promote sustainability.
Focus on efficiency and digital innovation
In addition to public-facing efforts, the Hyderabad passport office reported significant operational improvements:
– Reduced pendency and improved appointment timelines now 1 to 10 working days for normal, and 1 to 5 for Tatkal services.
– Enhanced grievance redressal mechanisms and faster disposal rates.
– Successful rollout of e-passports as part of the nationwide Passport Seva 2.0 project.
– Increased interaction with the public through social media platforms.
Telangana Police’s continued support
The Telangana Police’s consistent coordination with passport authorities, especially in prompt verifications, was a key factor in its recognition.
The award acknowledges the police department’s behind-the-scenes yet crucial contribution to the seamless delivery of passport services across the State.
The RPO Hyderabad and Telangana Police have together set a benchmark in efficient, people-first passport service delivery, earning national praise and institutional recognition at one of the most important conferences in the domain, said a public statement from the government.
