Row over site puts passport centre project in limbo

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, June 19

The proposal to set up Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in this border town has reportedly got stuck owing to tug-of-war between officials of the Postal Department and the Amritsar passport office over the allocation of requisite space.

The POPSK will be set up under the joint initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts (DoP).

Once established, this POPSK will benefit lakhs of residents of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga and Muktsar, besides Sriganganagar area in Rajasthan, who hitherto have to traverse long distances for their passport-related works. However, inordinate delay in setting up the same has invited public wrath.

Last week, officials from the Amritsar Passport Office, including Passport Officer Raj Kumar Bali, under whose administrative control this POPSK will function, visited the proposed site in the head post office here to finalise the nitty-gritty of the project.

Ferozepur DC Ramvir accompanied the team, but the final decision regarding the provision of space to set up POPSK could not be taken.

While the postal officials are ready to provide only 300 sq ft area, the MEA officials were demanding more area to suit their requirements that led to a logjam.

Superintendent (Posts) Parkash Singh said, “As per guidelines of the Central government, minimum 300 sq ft has to be provided for POPSK, still 400 sq ft has been made available. Any further decision can be taken by the higher authorities only.”

On the other hand, Bali said they had asked for a room measuring 600 sq ft that would be suitable to set up the centre, but the postal department was reluctant to provide the same for unforeseen reasons.

“In case, we are provided proper space, we can set up the office within a week,” he said, adding that otherwise things might get delayed. The DC said he would take up the matter with the Postmaster General in Chandigarh to expedite the process.

Parminder Kumar, a local businessman, said both departments should work out a solution so that people could avail passport-related services at the earliest. “It will save thousands of people from the hassle of travelling long distances,” MLA Parminder Singh Pinki said, adding that he would intervene to sort the matter soon.