Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has granted approval for setting up Passport Sewa Kendras (PSKs) in Shivni and Balaghat districts in Madhya Pradesh; and
(b) if so, the time by which the said PSKs are likely to be functional?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) Yes. The Government has announced the opening of four Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) at Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna, and Vidisha in Phase-I and ten POPSK at Balaghat, Chhindwara, Damoh, Dewas, Hoshangabad, Sehore, Sidhi, Ujjain, Betul and Shivni in Phase-II in Madhya Pradesh.
(b) Out of these fourteen POPSK, the four POPSK announced in Phase-I have become functional. The Government intends to complete the requisite formalities for the remaining locations like preparation of the site, procurement of IT and non-IT equipment for setting up of the remaining ten POPSK in Madhya Pradesh, including the two at Shivni and Balaghat, at the earliest.