Ahmedabad, Feb 3 (NationPress) In a significant development, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Ahmedabad has rolled out a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and transparency for those seeking passports, effective from January 1.

The new measures encompass an increase in the number of daily online appointments and the establishment of fixed walk-in hours for inquiries and document submissions.

As stated by Regional Passport Officer Abhijeet Shukla, the office is now providing an additional 100 online appointments each working day.

“The goal is to minimize waiting times for applicants and to streamline the passport application process,” Shukla remarked.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to tackle long-standing issues related to appointment availability. In addition to the expanded appointment slots, the RPO has implemented a walk-in service at its Gulbai Tekra office.

Every Monday and Wednesday, from 10 AM to 1 PM (excluding holidays), applicants can now visit the office without a prior online appointment to request information or submit necessary documents.

“Those who require immediate assistance or have pending document-related queries can now approach the office directly during these designated hours,” Shukla noted.

Officials highlighted that further enhancements have been made under the Passport Seva Programme 2.0, which has expedited application processing and reduced overall waiting periods.

According to the RPO, the improved system has also aided in better crowd management within the office, alleviating congestion during peak hours.

Passport applicants have responded positively to these changes. Keyur Patel, a recent applicant from Ahmedabad, expressed satisfaction with the streamlined process, stating, “I have renewed my passport. The process is now much easier and quicker, and it's transparent.” He also commended the office staff, mentioning, “The personnel here are very helpful and always respond to our inquiries.”

Another applicant, Kiritsinh Parmar, shared that securing an appointment used to be a significant hurdle. “Previously, it was quite challenging to obtain an appointment, and we faced long waits for our passports. Now, the process is vastly improved,” he commented.

For those unable to visit in person, the RPO has also enhanced alternative communication methods.

Applicants can now get inquiries and application status updates via a dedicated telephone line, email, and social media channels.

Officials emphasized that applicants visiting the office should bring all required original documents to facilitate prompt resolution of their cases.

The RPO anticipates that these citizen-centric measures will continue to enhance the overall passport application experience in Ahmedabad.