Passport office to set up in Agartala

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Agartala, November 29: In view of the growing demand from the state, the Ministry of

Exterl Affairs has decided to set up a pass port office in Agartala which will start functioning by December only. Two senior officials of the MEA are arriving here to review the progress of the passport Kendra and following their report a date for the iuguration will be filised.

One office for the purpose has already set up and necessary equipments have already been installed and the state government has sent one officer and five data entry operators on deputation to meet the manpower problem.

The demand for passport was increasing in the state following new road links were established between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka. The state government and various organisations were demanding for a passport office in Agartala as in its absence the people were to wait for months to get a passport.

Meanwhile, a new problem has arise as it has been decided that, henceforth, no hand written passport will be entertained for the purpose of visiting any foreign country which came into effect from November 27. Many people intend to visit Bangladesh had to come back from the Akhaura Check Post despite having valid visa.

The MEA is issuing computerised passport for quite a long time but still there are over 25,000 hand written Indo-Bangla passport in operation. The matter has already been undertaken with the MEA and a fil decision is awaited.