Tatkal quota for passport raised to 30%; PSK across Gujarat to operate on Saturday

Ahmedabad: Amid rising passport demand, authorities have increased the urgent application (tatkal) ratio from 20% to 30%. The move aims to address immediate passport requests and ease pressure on the Regional Passport Office.

Additionally, starting May 20, 19 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) across the state will accept passport applications on Saturdays. This change will expedite passport issuance and benefit those in need of urgent passports.

According to Regional Passport Officer Wren Mishra (pictured), “Passport applications have recently surged. Currently, we are scheduling appointments for approximately 4,800 individuals daily. Out of these, 3,500 to 3,600 visit us for new applications or renewals, and about 500 applications are designated as urgent.”

Despite the additional Rs 2,000 fee, which allows for faster passport acquisition, there are still significant waiting periods for urgent appointments. In Vadodara, the wait time is 10 to 11 days, 7 to 8 days in Rajkot, and a maximum of 12 to 13 days in Ahmedabad. DeshGujarat