The regional passport office (RPO) in Kolkata has announced a 'Passport Mela' to be held on Saturday, June 13, aimed at clearing the backlog of passport applications. The single-day drive will be organized at the Passport Seva Kendra in Anandpur, where officials expect to process approximately 2,000 appointments.
How to Secure a Slot
An official from the RPO stated that slots must be booked ahead of time, and appointments will be released sequentially on the official portal. To secure and process a slot for June 13, applicants are required to register online and pay the fee online. On the day of the event, applicants must carry the printed online Application Reference Number (ARN) sheet, along with original documents and photocopies of identity proof, address proof, and date of birth proof.
Important Restrictions
The regional passport officer, Ashish Middha, clarified that certain types of applications will not be entertained during the mela. These include walk-in applications, on-hold files from previous dates, tatkal applications, and police clearance certificate (PCC) applications. Only pre-booked appointments will be processed.
This initiative comes as a relief for many residents who have been facing delays in obtaining passports due to the accumulation of pending applications. The RPO has urged applicants to follow the guidelines carefully to avoid any inconvenience.
