Puducherry to get Passport Seva Kendra soon

CHENNAI: The Ministry of External Affairs would open a Passport Seva Kendra in Puducherry in two to three months to cater to customers in the Union territory and neighbouring Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu, a senior official said today.

"The new Passport Seva Kendra at Puducherry is in the pipeline. The Puducherry government has identified a building and given it to us. At present the renovation work is going on and would be established in two to three months," Regional Passport Officer C Senthil Pandian told reporters here.

Once the Kendra commences operations, customers residing in Puducherry and neighbouring Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu can avail services there, avoiding a travel of over 100 km to Chennai, he said.

The Regional Passport Office in Chennai has issued over 3.90 lakh passports in 2014, achieving the target of 3,83,700 passports set by the Ministry, he said.

The appointments given to customers every day at three PSKs in Chennai has been increased from 1,850 to 2,730, Pandian added.