Passport blues

After a horrific experience in Calcutta Passport office, I found out the procedure to apply for a passport in the Mumbai office. Apparently, it is compulsory to take an appointment in Mumbai passport office, so had to go through the same. Got an appointment for 12 noon for a date which was 10 days away (earliest available) and was advised to reach 15 minutes earlier. Once I reached there, I was astonished to see the number of people who were waiting before me. Basically, what they had done is that ‘appointment time’ enables one to be a part of the line which runs upto the required counter. Well, I got in the line but seeing the rush, I was pretty sure of not reaching the counter before 4 in the evening.

Finally, after standing in the line for 4 long hours (after seeing a 45 minute lunch break), my turn finally came. The lady started checking my documents and told me that I am short of one address proof!!! I was shell shocked as I had checked and rechecked the requirements given on the website. I told her that it is as per the website, but this fell on deaf ears and told me to come back the next day with the complete documents. I requested her to at least check my other documents and tell me if everything else is in order, which was indeed the case. But, I had to come back the next day as my one more request to consider my application did not move her!

I was also told that there is no need to take a new appointment and my old application stands valid for 10 days albeit, I need to go another counter if I am not coming on my appointment date. When I went after 2 days, I was instructed to go a general line which looked after cases of coming on non-appointed days. Here again, the wait was an arduous task as I reached at 10 when the office opened and turn came at 3:30 in the afternoon. The lady asked something in regional language which I did not understand and requested her to either talk in English or Hindi. At this, she got furious that why don’t you learn Marathi and random stuff like that. Now, why is that a problem!!! Well, I controlled my anger and told her that I will soon learn the language :P Next, she told that since my passport is damaged (which was smudged due to water), so I won’t be issued a 60 page booklet (I asked for the same instead of 36 page one) as that is a rule! I was little surprised but since it was a ‘rule’ there was nothing I could do. She cleared my application and was sent to cash counter. Here, the cashier asked for a fee of Rs. 2,500 whereas the fee is Rs. 1,000 for a 36 page booklet and Rs. 1,500 booklet! When I opposed the same, I was told that mine is ‘damaged passport re-issue’ case and hence the fee. I told her that it is a ‘expiry re-issue’ case! After some investigation, it was discovered that the first counter lady and had done a blunder in reading my application…how irresponsible are these people. Again, I had to go to the main counter and some corrections were made. Now, a new thing came up. Since she had written that my passport was damaged, now I needed an affidavit for the same from a police station which essentially meant that I need to come back again. Now, I lost my temper and told her that no-way this is gonna happen and I want to meet their senior. I went to the passport officer and had to give a small application and finally my 60 page booklet application was submitted. The whole thing took around an hour. What a criminal wastage of time I thought!

The next step is police verification in which the individual needs to go the area police station once their application reaches there. This usually takes 3 weeks but my application reached after more than a month, followed which police came for enquiry after 2 weeks at my place! I was told to visit the police station where the verification offer was working in the slowest possible speed. Since, he had to harass me, so he came up with this weird excuse that ‘road name’ was missing from my application and hence same would be rejected. I told him that there is no need to get into all this nonsense now…so in return he asked me for a ‘gift’. When I asked what specifically was needed by him, he kept quite! Well, in the meanwhile my documents were checked and I was told to meet his senior also (part of procedure). The next evening I went to meet his senior which was not a problem at all but once we came out he again asked for his ‘gift’ and again the talks went into negotiation mode. He threatened me that he is rejecting my application but then I after some more discussions, my application was finally approved!

Even after that it took more than 6 weeks (normally 2 weeks) for my new passport to come my place.

I recently read this article and was not surprised by it. When such lazy and greedy people are involved in the passport issue system, numbers are bound to come down (Verbatim from the article - in fact, last year saw a reduction in the absolute number of new passports issued). Luckily, I was not working when I had to renew my passport but for working people, it means loss of 2 full working days for standing in the line! How sad and pathetic situation is that….

Frustrating experience for the passport renewal in Kolkata

It has been 10 years since I got my passport made and its validity expires on Feb 14 this year. Since I am staying in Kolkata for the past 2 years, I decided to do so in the city itself. Though, rules allow me to apply in Mumbai too (as that is my permanent address) but verification and all would have been a pain as my stay in Mumbai never exceeds a week.

When I inquired about the process and expected time for Kolkata, I discovered that I don't have enough time to go through the normal application route and it would be great if I use the tatkal scheme. Though it is 1000 bucks, I hoped that atleast I will have my new passport in no time! After getting all the formalities from my end (which were lotsa), I went to the passport office today morning.

Though the counter opens at 10 in the morning, apparently there is a token system for the tatkal ones which as the site suggested will begin from 9 am. After leaving the campus at 7 in the morning, I finally reached the passport office at around 0820. Upon reaching there, I was just flabbergasted by what I saw. There was atleast a 500 m long line already made for the submission of applications. I went to the main gate and tried to know about the tatkal token thing. I was told that I need to be a part of this line only and it will be done in some time. Well, I waited for 15 minutes or so when 2-3 people around me told me to go and check near the gate only for tatkal. Then I met a 'middleman' who was offering 'services' at a 'service charge' of Rs. 1,000/- and 'guaranteed' me the passport being processed itself. Well, he also confirmed that tatkal people need to be at the gate. I went there at around 0850 and found a policeman writing names of people who were there for the tatkal process.

I got my name written and the serial number was 80 and then came the revelation which left me astonished to say the least !!! There is some arbit rule which says that only the first 60 people are allowed for tatkal! So, at 9 am 60 people were let in and others were told to wait. At around 0940, 8 more people were lucky to let in as maybe some of the people let in initially did not have proper documents or something. At 10 when all counters are open, it was declared that no more tatkal applications will be accepted and they can leave for the day.

I investigated on how this token 'actually' works and to my horror I came to know token number starts from 7 in the evening of the previous day!!! And people spent the WHOLE NIGHT waiting outside the passport night.

How screwed up is that a system! A person ready to pay extra for a service and for something as critical as a passport has to go through such pains. As for me, I am letting my passport expire and will apply in Mumbai only once I am done with my course at IIM Calcutta.