Hyderabad: A new Passport Seva Kendra has been inaugurated at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) metro station, bringing major relief to residents, particularly those living in the Old City. Until now, people had to travel long distances to access passport services. This new centre is the first of its kind in India to be set up inside a metro station. The facility was inaugurated by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Earlier located in Ameerpet, the passport office has now been shifted to MGBS. Alongside this, another passport office was opened in Raidurg on Tuesday after being relocated from Tolichowki. A day earlier, a new office was also inaugurated in Karimnagar.

Facilities offered

The MGBS passport office is equipped with 28 service counters and modern facilities such as advanced IT systems, larger waiting halls, and better parking areas. It also comes with a streamlined processing system designed to complete applications in less than a week.

Officials from the Regional Passport Office (RPO) confirmed that the centre can handle up to 1,200 appointments per day, making it the biggest passport office in Telangana and the country. By comparison, most passport offices across India handle around 700 to 800 appointments daily.

The centre also features a TRIFED (Tribal Corporation Marketing Development Federation of India) stall showcasing jewellery, paintings, pottery, and other crafts made by tribal communities from different regions.

Why MGBS metro station?

The MGBS metro station was chosen as the site for the new passport office due to its connectivity, especially with the Old City. It is one of busiest transport hubs in Telangana, and hence the location makes it easier for citizens across Hyderabad to access passport-related services.

Speaking at the event, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Asaduddin Owaisi, along with senior RPO officials, said that the new passport office would serve a large section of the population and set new standards for technology-based passport services in the country.

Several dignitaries attended the inauguration, including Hyderabad district collector Harichandana Dasari, GHMC mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, regional passport officer J Snehaja, joint secretary and chief passport officer of the Ministry of External Affairs J Srinivasa, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Yadav, and transport and tribal welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who was the chief guest.