Proposal to establish Passport Seva Kendra

BELAGAVI: The external affairs ministry is mulling opening an additional Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Belagavi.
Following repeated demands from the people of Belagavi, the ministry has included the city in the proposed list.
In a letter to mayor Sarita Patil, Arun Chatterji, joint secretary, SPS and chief passport officer, has informed the inclusion of Belagavi in the list of prospective additional PSK.The feasibility study is being conducted and the PSK would be opened based on the recommendations.
Before 2006, the PSK functioned from the Belagavi SP office. After it was shifted to Hubballi, citizens face inconvenience as they have to spend a day or two in Hubballi for their passport-related issues.
The Past Presidents Council of Belagavi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, comprising Satish Tendulkar, Shevantilal Shah, Basavaraj Javali and Vikas Kalaghatagi, have been striving to launch a PSK in Belagavi. Recently, they met mayor Sarita Patil, urging her to follow up the issue.
Two-day camp
The ministry of external affairs has instructed Regional Passport Office, Bengaluru, to conduct a two-day passport camp in Belagavi in the near future. However, Satish Tendulkar said there is a need of at least a weeklong camp as over 2,800 applications from Belagavi are pending in the Hubballi office.