Govt working on mobile app to allow users to apply, pay fees for passports
Ministry of
External Affairs will soon be launching an upgraded version of its
mPassport Seva app to allow users to apply for passports as well as pay
the pay the passport application fee via their smartphones.
The government had launched the mPassport Seva
app earlier this year. The app will let users log in, file the
application and track their application status through their
smartphones.
The mPassport Seva can be downloaded
free from www.passportindia.gov.in. The app allows users to track their
application status, view the complete tracking process, get complete
information about the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) as well as get
general information regarding the procedure for passport application.
Golok Kumar Simli, principal consultant
and head (technology), ministry of external affairs stated, "The
facility to help applicants fill passports and make payment through the
app should be available in one to one-and-a-half months". He added that
users will still have to carry hard copies of the documents required to
the passport seva kendra after an ARN number is generated and an
appointment is fixed. Simli said that the app was being developed by
Tata Consultancy Services and will be handed over to MEA later.
The app will let users apply for
passports via their Android mobile phones. Users will also be able to
make passport application fees online via their credit or debit cards.
The applicant can then visit the nearest PSK and collect their allotted
'application reference number'. The number of passports issued this year
has increased to 85 lakh this year as compared to 74 lakh passports
issued last year, an official added.
Source: ET
