Now get passport verification updates through SMS

The special branch of Ahmedabad police handling passport verification process has begun a computerised SMS system promising to give latest updates on the status of passport applications.

According to Shamsher Singh, joint commissioner of police, special branch, the system was launched last week. He said the branch has started sending SMS on the applicants' cell numbers for the verification process.

"Once we send the application for verification to the concerned police station, the applicant will receive an SMS. The message would update the applicant of the police station as well as concerned verification official's cell number and other details," Singh told DNA.

Once the verification is done, applicants will receive the next update when their applications are sent to the regional passport office for the final process.

Police believe that the SMS system will help the applicants and the department in enhancing better coordination and reduce verification process time.

Singh said that the system will ease down verification process for which the applicants had to earlier run from pillar-to-post. Police have started feeding applicants' cell numbers in the computers through which messages will be sent during the exercise.

"Earlier, even our staff were pressurised to complete the verification on time. Applicants had to visit police station on and off which was a tedious task. But with the new system in place, we hope there will be better coordination between the applicant and verifying officer," Singh said.

Considering the whopping number of passport applications that the special branch receives, approximately 80,000 a year, the system is certainly an improvement.