Bengaluru is introducing a new Mobile Passport Service Van to make passport-related services more accessible, especially for residents in underserved or distant neighbourhoods. Starting Friday, December 5, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) will deploy the first van in Yelahanka, with plans to expand the service across the city and eventually the state.
This initiative aims to reduce congestion at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), minimise travel time, and simplify the application process for thousands of applicants each month.
When Will the Mobile Passport Van Operate?
The first deployment will take place at:
Location: Mini Vidhana Soudha, NES Office Road, Yelahanka
Timings: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Date: Friday, December 5
Officials have stated that the van can process 40–50 passport applications per day. Once the pilot phase stabilises, the service is expected to follow a weekly schedule across multiple Bengaluru neighbourhoods and eventually other Karnataka districts.
Why the Mobile Passport Initiative Matters
Rising Demand and Overcrowding
Bengaluru’s PSKs have been witnessing significant overcrowding due to:
- Increased passport demand after the introduction of e-passports
- Limited appointment availability
- Severe intra-city traffic delays
- Rapid population growth in Bengaluru’s peripheral zones
A senior RPO official confirmed that the pilot will help gauge public response and determine how widely the service can be scaled.
Key Benefits of the Mobile Passport Van
Improved Accessibility
Applicants living far from PSKs or Post Office Passport Seva Kendras will have passport services closer to home, reducing both travel time and cost.
Reduced Pressure on Existing Centres
By handling 40–50 applications daily, the mobile van will ease the workload on existing passport counters, helping reduce waiting times.
Convenience for Specific Applicant Groups
The initiative especially benefits:
- Senior citizens
- Students
- Women applicants
- First-time applicants
- Residents in remote or high-traffic zones
Weekly Deployment Planned
Once proven successful, the service will be expanded to operate on a weekly basis across different Bengaluru localities.
Support for Growing E-Passport Adoption
Since e-passports were introduced:
- Over 6 lakh e-passports have been issued
- Bengaluru has processed nearly 90,000 passports per month since May
The mobile van will help manage this increased demand more efficiently.
Why Many Bengaluru Residents Are Applying in Other Districts
In recent months, several residents have chosen to apply at passport centres outside Bengaluru, including:
- Kolar
- Chikkaballapur
- Selected towns in Andhra Pradesh
This shift occurred because of quicker appointment availability and shorter overall travel times compared to navigating Bengaluru’s traffic. The mobile van aims to alleviate this by offering more localised options.
Services Expected from the Mobile Passport Van
The van will support several essential passport services, including:
- Application submission
- Document verification
- Biometric data capture
- Processing of appointment credentials
Final police verification and passport issuance will continue through standard RPO procedures.
Ongoing Improvements in Karnataka’s Passport Infrastructure
E-Passports in Bengaluru
With chip-enabled booklets and enhanced security, e-passports provide faster immigration clearance and improved data protection. Bengaluru began issuing these passports in Phase I from May.
Expansion of POPSKs
The government is considering increasing the number of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras to improve coverage in semi-urban and rural areas.
Who Will Benefit the Most?
The mobile passport service is particularly helpful for:
- Working professionals with limited weekday availability
- Students applying for overseas studies
- Elderly applicants
- Families who prefer local service points
- Residents in high-growth zones such as North Bengaluru
What to Expect Next
Based on initial public response, the RPO plans to:
- Add more mobile vans
- Roll out weekly availability across multiple locations
- Introduce online slot booking for mobile service centres
- Integrate live tracking and scheduling on the Passport Seva Portal
Conclusion
The launch of the Mobile Passport Van in Bengaluru is a significant step toward decentralising and simplifying passport services. With rising demand, long travel distances, and appointment shortages, this initiative brings passport processing closer to citizens’ doorsteps. If scaled effectively, it could become a model for other Indian cities seeking to improve access to essential public services.
