Ahmedabad Regional Passport Office (RPO) has reported a 10% decline in passport applications between 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the office received 8.70 lakh applications, but the number dropped to 7.92 lakh in 2024
According to Ahmedabad’s Regional Passport Officer, Abhijeet Shukla, the office has addressed the issue through targeted initiatives, including five special pendency drives organised throughout 2024. These drives were designed to expedite the processing of pending applications and ensure timely delivery of passports to applicants.
In addition to the special drives, the capacity in key areas such as Himatnagar, Anand, and Nadiad was increased to better handle the demand in these regions. This move has helped in reducing waiting times and streamlining the passport issuance process.
Last year, the office also launched a mobile service van, which proved to be an effective tool in reaching applicants in remote areas. This service allowed citizens who might have faced difficulties in traveling to the passport office to apply for or collect their passports from a more accessible location.