Kolkata: Kolkata Police have added several layers of checks to the passport verification process. This involves applications for both new passports and reissues.
The added security measures include sending all the identity documents submitted by the applicants to the respective departments from where they were issued.
Subsequently, Kolkata Police is also sharing a link with the passport applicants who can track which documents are being verified by the police.
The police claim that these measures have made the verification process foolproof, particularly after the racket to obtain Indian passports with forged identity documents was busted.
Nevertheless, the Regional Passport Office claims this has considerably increased the time it takes to get clearance. Earlier passports were being issued with one to two weeks of an interview at the Passport Seva Kendra, but now it takes close to a month on average.
The increase in time has happened because of the documents being sent to their respective bodies. Previously, the verifying officers would check the documents and grant or deny permission based on their observations.
Now, the scanned copy of the birth certificate is sent to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Aadhar card details are sent to the Unique Identification Authority of India and the education certificate is sent to the respective board of education.
A pilot project has started in two police divisions in Kolkata, where a link is being sent to the applicants following which they can check which documents the police are verifying.
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