The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Hyderabad has been ranked fifth among the top RPOs in India for issuing passports in 2023. The RPO Hyderabad has surpassed its previous records by issuing 785,485 passports this year, compared to 643,157 in 2022 and 428,246 in 2021. To meet the increasing demand for passport services, the office has initiated special drives on Saturdays throughout the year. In total, India has issued more than 1.5 crore passports and passport-related travel documents across all regions by November 2023.
The RPO Hyderabad, along with its Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) in Telangana, processes around 4,000 applications every day. They have processed approximately 8.11 lakh applications this year, including services for passport issuance and police clearance certificates. The RPO has also taken steps to enhance service delivery, such as revamping the inquiry and appointment system to better serve applicants requiring additional documentation.
Starting from December 1, 2023, there are now 250 online appointments available every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Additionally, applicants can walk in without an appointment every Thursday between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm. The RPO has processed around 4,500 inquiry appointments this month alone. Efforts are underway to reduce the current average appointment cycle, which is around 22 days for normal applications and 4-5 days for Tatkaal services.
The RPO is working to meet the increasing demand for passport services in places like Warangal by expanding services at POPSKs. The camp mode service at RPO in Secunderabad will conclude on December 29 and applications will be redirected to other PSKs starting from January 1, 2024. Special counters have been established at the RPO to expedite the processing of passport applications for Haj pilgrims.
The ministry is intensifying efforts to address complaints received through various channels and encourages citizens to reach out to RPO Hyderabad through emails, RTI, CPGRAMs, and Twitter. In the new year, the RPO will continue to make efforts to make passport services more transparent, efficient, and accessible.
