Guwahati: In a bid to enhance the accessibility of passport services across remote and rural areas of the Northeast, the Ministry of External Affairs officially launched the Passport Seva Mobile Van service in Guwahati on Saturday.
The initiative, part of the “Passport Seva Aapke Dwar” programme, was inaugurated by Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer, at Gauhati University.
Designed to serve citizens living in far-flung areas under the jurisdiction of the Regional Passport Office (RPO) Guwahati, the mobile van will allow applicants to complete the entire passport application process without having to travel to Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs).
This marks a significant step in strengthening last-mile delivery of citizen services in the region.
At present, RPO Guwahati oversees operations through six Passport Seva Kendras and 19 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras, catering to six northeastern states.
With the deployment of this mobile unit, passport services are expected to become more inclusive and citizen-friendly.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Srinivasa said, “The mobile van is a one-stop solution where citizens can complete all formalities related to passport applications.”
He noted that one van has currently been allocated to each of the 37 Regional Passport Offices across the country, with the possibility of adding more units in the future.
During his visit to Assam, Dr. Srinivasa also met with key stakeholders, including Assam DGP Harmeet Singh, ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath, and Chief Postmaster General Col. Arvind Varma, to discuss coordination efforts in passport-related services.
He inspected the Guwahati RPO and PSK facilities and praised officials from the Ministry and service partner TCS for their commitment to efficiency, transparency, and integrity.
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Dr. Srinivasa also paid courtesy visits to Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, briefing them on the Ministry’s efforts in streamlining passport issuance.
Both leaders expressed appreciation for the timely and citizen-centric delivery of services across the state.
The initiative reflects the Ministry of External Affairs’ continued push to extend digital and mobile governance to underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to essential services.
