95,000 passports likely for Punekars in 2006

PUNE: In 2006, more Punekars than ever before travelled overseas for the first time, going by the numbers of people who applied for passports.

And going by the numbers again, the number of people who travelled to Dubai and Singapore has also increased in the year since direct flights to these two locations were introduced. All of which just shows that free the Indian and s/he is ready to take off.

The regional passport office in Pune was set up in 2000, when it issued 3,750 passports a month, with an annual issuing of about 45,000 passports. Today, this has jumped to between 7- 8,000 per month, with the full year's issuance expected to come close at 95,000 passports. In the month of July alone, the regional passport office here issued 10,500 passports. This office caters to the districts of Pune, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur and Satara.

Those seeking passports are not just the software professionals or inveterate travellers. They also include professionals, students, artisans and plumbers. These are people seeking new passports or renewing old ones and does not give the full picture of a city and citizens on the move. Pune has always been a hunting ground for tour operators, with all of them targeting the city with tour packages, both domestic and overseas.

A similar jump is seen in the number of people using the international flights to Dubai and Singapore, inaugurated a year ago, on December 12, 05. While the total number of passengers on these flights, in the year to December 12 06 was 16,794 people, destination Dubai attracted more passengers.

Among those making the trip were civil engineers, real estate developers, IT professionals, dentists and air conditioning mechanics, who find the direct flight a time and cost saving alternative. Air India flies to Dubai while Indian heads eastwards, to Singapore.

Among those heading east, to Singapore, are the pleasure traveller wanting to usher in the New Year in the island state. Indian has therefore had to announce they are full up till January 07.