- Making Passport access easier for rural residents
Bhopal – In a significant step toward improving public service delivery, residents of Bhopal and surrounding districts, especially those in rural and remote areas, will no longer need to travel to the city to apply for a passport. The Ministry of External Affairs has introduced a Passport Seva Mobile Van to bring passport services directly to the doorstep of underserved communities.
This mobile van was officially launched on Friday at the Regional Passport Office in Arera Hills, Bhopal.
According to Regional Passport Officer Sheetanshu Chaurasia, the van will visit areas where no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) currently exists. Fully equipped to function like a standard PSK, the van will offer biometric registration, document scanning, photo capture, and verification services on-site.
“With this initiative, the entire passport application process can be completed close to one’s home—saving time, money, and travel-related hassles,” Chaurasia explained.
Information about the van’s arrival in different areas will be communicated in advance through local awareness campaigns. Online appointment booking will be required for those seeking to avail of the service.
This mobile initiative is expected to significantly bridge the urban-rural gap in access to essential government services.
