Pune Passport Office Conducts Special Training for Police to Enhance Verification Efficiency
The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Pune has organized a comprehensive training session for city police personnel, aimed at streamlining the passport verification process and significantly reducing delays in application processing. This initiative seeks to strengthen coordination between the passport office and the police department, which plays a crucial role in conducting address and background checks for applicants.
Focus on Upgraded Digital Systems and Standardized Procedures
The training session was held at the office of the Commissioner of Police and centered on familiarizing personnel with the enhanced Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0 system. Officials emphasized the importance of standardizing verification procedures to ensure consistency and efficiency. Deputy Passport Officer Shruti Pandey provided a detailed demonstration of the new digital features of PSP 2.0, highlighting how the upgraded system facilitates faster processing, improves data accuracy, and enables better monitoring of verification timelines.
The training also addressed common documentation issues, discrepancies, and operational challenges faced by police during field verification. An interactive question-and-answer segment allowed police officers to raise queries related to procedures and documentation requirements, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving.
Emphasis on Timely and Accurate Verification for National Security
Regional Passport Officer Vinod Gaikwad underscored that timely and accurate police verification remains a critical pillar of passport issuance, essential for both national security and citizen convenience. He stated that police have been instructed to conduct fresh and more rigorous verification in cases where an applicant's address is found to be doubtful. Specifically, addresses that previously received police remarks indicating the applicant was 'not residing at the given location' will now mandatorily undergo re-verification, with special emphasis on criminal background checks.
This directive for fresh verification comes amid recent public attention on the passport verification process, following the escape of Pune-based criminal Nilesh Ghaywal. The training initiative aims to bolster security measures and ensure that verification processes are robust and reliable, thereby preventing such incidents in the future.
By equipping police with advanced digital tools and standardized protocols, the Pune RPO hopes to enhance the overall efficiency of passport services, reduce application backlogs, and provide a smoother experience for citizens while maintaining stringent security standards.
