Passport Seva Kendras in all 13 districts, says M Venkaiah Naidu

Nellore: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said they would open Passport Seva Kendras (PSK) in all 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh for the convenience of the people.He formally inaugurated the 51st Passport Seva Kendra of the country in Nellore on Friday. He pointed out that currently 50 passports were being issued each day against the target of 150 per day.

Highlights:

• Inaugurates Passport Seva Kendra in Nellore and hands over passport to applicants
• PSKs will also be opened soon at Anantapur, Srikakulam and Rajamahendravaram
• Points out that the demand for passports is increasing by 10 per cent every year
• Says loans have so far been issued to 6 crore women through Mudra Bank

He addressed a function held at Kasturba Kalakshetram and said that the External Affairs Ministry and the Postal Department would run the centre with mutual coordination. He said that the applicants need not wait in long queues for securing the passport as it is being done online and the process has been streamlined and made fully transparent.

The Union Minister said they would shortly open the Seva Kendras also in Anantapur, Srikakulam and Rajamahendravaram. He informed that the use of passports increased by 10 pc every year and the Ministry had planned to meet the demand by way of arranging PSKs in all important towns.

In all state capitals, they would consider foreign embassy offices for more accessibility to the people. He said they had brought around 21,000 people from UAE, Libya, and Yemen to India through Operation Rahat scheme.Venkaiah Naidu said so far they had linked 28.2 crore Aadhaar identity cards to various schemes till now in the country. He said they had also sanctioned loans to 6 crore women in the country through Mudra Bank.

The State and Central governments were focusing on giving priority for women in various schemes and majority women SHGs were also repaying loans to the banks punctually, he praised. Venkaiah Naidu, talking about local issues, said drinking water, drainage system, roads and greenery are the key for urban life and he assured to improve Jafar Saheb Canal and Sarvepalli Canal in Nellore for free flow of excess water during heavy rains.

Relief and rehabilitation would be provided to the oustees in case of widening of roads and clearing encroachments in urban areas without any bias. He said they had released Rs 88 crore under the 14th Finance Commission grants to the city.

Venkaiah said they had planned rejuvenation of the age-old Buckingham Canal System through coastal corridors in the State. Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said the Union government had generously sanctioned funds for various development programmes in the State.

They would be improving UGD and drinking water system in Nellore city with Rs 1,050 crore keeping in view the demand for the coming 30 years, he said.He also said they had completed conversion of traditional bulbs into LEDs in the entire State and taking measures to make Nellore city a smart one.

Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy, Nellore rural MLA K Sridhar Reddy, Chief Post Master General Bala Subrahmanyam, Mayor Abdul Aziz, District Collector Mutyala Raju, SP Vishal Gunni and others were present.

Further, the Union Minister laid foundation stones for various programmes in city under AMRUT scheme.He handed over passports to two persons Sahiti and Vasantha Lakshmi during the programme. Later, the participants under the leadership of Narayana took the Nava Nirmana Deeksha pledge.