Pune’s Regional Passport Office has proposed two new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras in Chakan and Hadapsar, a move aimed at improving access to passport services for residents in two of the city’s fastest-growing industrial and residential corridors. If approved, the centres are expected to reduce travel distances for applicants, ease pressure on the existing passport facility and improve the efficiency of public service delivery across the metropolitan region.
The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs under its partnership with the Department of Posts, through which selected post offices provide passport-related services. The initiative reflects a broader effort to decentralise citizen services as Pune’s urban footprint expands and demand for government documentation continues to increase alongside economic growth. Chakan and Hadapsar have witnessed sustained industrial investment, employment generation and residential development over the past decade. Urban governance experts note that the concentration of manufacturing units, logistics hubs and technology businesses has significantly increased the number of residents requiring passports for employment, education and international business travel. Locating Post Office Passport Seva Kendras closer to these communities could therefore improve accessibility while reducing unnecessary travel across the city.
The existing Passport Seva Kendra on Baner-Pashan Link Road currently manages approximately 1,430 appointments each day, making it one of the region’s busiest public service centres. Officials indicate that additional facilities could distribute applicant volumes more evenly, shorten appointment waiting periods and enhance overall operational efficiency. Administrative data also highlights opportunities to improve service utilisation. Around 250 applicants reportedly arrive daily without complete documentation, requiring follow-up visits before applications can be fully processed. At the same time, an estimated five to ten per cent of appointment holders fail to attend scheduled slots, limiting opportunities for other applicants and affecting resource management. Public administration specialists suggest that stronger digital reminders, document verification before appointments and timely rescheduling could improve system efficiency without requiring significant additional infrastructure. The Regional Passport Office has also continued upgrading its digital services under the Passport Seva Programme 2.0, which includes improvements to online processing systems and the phased introduction of biometric chip-enabled passports. Such measures are intended to strengthen document security while simplifying application procedures as demand for passport services continues to grow.
Between January and May this year, the Pune office issued approximately 2.17 lakh passports. A small proportion of applications remained incomplete or undelivered, largely because applicants did not complete documentation or failed to return for the final stages of processing. Experts believe expanding neighbourhood-level service centres could help reduce such cases by making follow-up visits more convenient. As Pune continues to emerge as a major economic and employment hub, urban planners argue that essential government services must evolve alongside population growth. Bringing passport facilities closer to rapidly developing suburbs can improve accessibility, reduce travel-related emissions and support more citizen-centric urban governance. The proposed expansion now awaits approval, with residents likely to benefit from faster and more convenient access if the additional centres become operational.
