Passport Seva Project
The Union Cabinet yesterday gave its approval to the following proposals :-
1. Outsourcing of front-end activities of passport issuance through an open bidding process to a Service Provider(s), setting up of 68 Passport Facilitation Centres and use of the current Passport Offices as Passport Back-Offices.
2. Outsourcing of dispatch of passports to India post.
3. Upgradation of information Technology, with uniform procedures, in use in passport issuance system, setting up of a Central Printing unit and online links with concerned police authorities.
4. Permit the Service provider(s) to levy a fee, to be decided through an open bidding process, over and above the Government fee for each service so as to enable him recover his costs.
5. Improvement in the working conditions in Passport Back-Offices at a cost of Rs. 8 crores.
6. Setting up of a Project Management Unit for implementation of the project.
7. Establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) at an appropriate time for the management, supervision and monitoring of the project.
The Passport Seva project will result in delivery of passport-related services to the citizens in a timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner and in a comfortable environment through streamlined processes and a committed, trained and motivated workforce. The Project will be implemented over a period of 19 months by the Ministry of External Affairs.