Imphal passport office defunct since May 4
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 21 2023: Prolonged closure of Passport Seva Kendra, Imphal due to outbreak of the ethnic conflict severely affected people in need of passport for travelling abroad.

Passport Seva Kendra is being operated under the Ministry of External Affairs while Manipur MP Dr RK Ranjan is currently minister of state for external affairs.

As per sources, the Passport Seva Kendra opened at Old Assembly complex has been rendered defunct since May 4, a day after the ethnic violence broke out in the state, consequently hindering people particularly students and sportspersons in possessing Tatkal or formal passport they require for travelling to foreign countries.

The passport seekers are forced to travel to Guwahati or other states with huge expenses merely for getting passport.

Prolonged closure of the passport office is also creating dilemma to those who have registered earlier.

A person who went to the passport office in-formed The People's Chronicle that Passport Seva Kendra, Imphal has been laying idle since May 4 with no staff in attendance.

Quoting an official of the office, the person informed that the passport office could not be opened as per Instruction of the Ministry of External Affairs.

Some staff did come to the office for sharing information to people but they too stopped attending office since August 19 due to power outage.

The office could be re-open only after getting instruction from the ministry, the person said quoting the official.

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