Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday for the second time requested the Centre for establishment of two new Passport Seva Kendras in the State. “I would request once again to take steps for establishment of two additional Passport Seva Kendras in the State, one at Sambalpur and another at Brahmapur, which will help the citizens of the State to a great extent in obtaining passport services,” Patnaik said in a letter to Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Patnaik said as there is one Passport Seva Kendra in the State at its capital city serving as many as 30 districts, people of western and southern districts are facing immense difficulties for obtaining passports. With the expansion of opportunities for mobility across borders for education, tourism and business, there is substantial increase in the demand for passport services. During 2014, about one lakh passports have been issued by the Bhubaneswar Passport Seva Kendra,” he pointed out.
Keeping in view the geographical distance of western and southern districts of the State, the Chief Minister said he had requested the former Union External Affairs Minister in July 2012 to take immediate action for setting up Passport Seva Kendras at Sambalpur and Brahmapur. But a response in this regard is still awaited.