With several passport seekers
missing their appoint ments at the passport seva kendras on Wednesday due to
the curfew, the city passport department on Thursday allowed walk-in interviews
to facilitate the affected applicants. As per reports, only 40 per cent
applicants made it for interviews on Wednesday. While exceptions were also made
for applicants who reached after their scheduled time due to the curfew on
Thursday, others will have to apply for a second appointment.
“People who miss their
appointments are asked to apply again to get a new date. But this time, we made
an exception as many applicants could not come on Wednesday because of the
curfew and unrest.
“So applicants who missed their
slots on Wednesday were allowed walk-in interviews on Thursday,“ said Z A Khan,
Regional Passport Officer, Ahmedabad.
ONLY 40% MADE IT ON WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday, the city passport
department had scheduled a total of 1,540 appointments at the two passport seva
kendras. Of the 810 appointments scheduled at the Mithakali branch, only 275
were able to reach the office. Similarly, of the 730 scheduled appointments
only 342 were able to reach the Vijay Crossroad branch.
Meghal H Purohit, a 24-year-old
physiotherapy student from NHL Medical College was among the few who managed to
reach Mithakali branch as per her given time at 9.30 am on Wednesday but had to
return due to lack of staff. “But luckily, I was allowed to appear for the
interview on Thursday,“ says Meghal. Similarly, when housewife and Bapunagar
resident Binal Danani approached the passport seva kendra on Thursday, the
staff verified her documents and ensure she was able to appear for the
procedure. “Due to curfew in my area on Wednesday, I was unable to go for the
verification. I was worried I would have to go for the entire procedure again
for an appointment. But thankfully, the staff did not reject my documents on
Thursday,“ said Binal, who requires her passport as soon as possible to join
her brother in Canada.
NO EXCEPTIONS AFTER THURSDAY
On Thursday, applicants who had
reached later than their scheduled interview time were also allowed. Khan said,
“Since curfew has not been called off in some areas, it is understandable that
people would take time to reach the venue. So we facilitated their verification
despite the delay.“ However, those who were unable to approach the passport
office on Thursday will not be given a second chance -they will have to take a
second appointment. “Applicants who missed their appointments on Wednesday and
didn't approach us on Thursday will have to apply for a new date. The new date
will be available only after September 13,“ said an official from a passport
seva kendra.
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