Post Office Passport Seva Kendra inaugurated in Chennai's Kolathur

Chennai's northern suburbs got a significant boost in public service access on Friday with the opening of a new Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in Kolathur. The facility, housed within the Kolathur Head Post Office, will handle fresh passport applications and renewal requests.

This is the latest addition to a growing network of passport centres linked with post offices across Tamil Nadu. Officials said the location was chosen specifically to serve residents in Kolathur, Perambur, Vyasarpadi and surrounding areas who previously had to travel to the Regional Passport Office in Anna Nagar or other centres in the city.

What the new centre offers

The POPSK will function on all working days except Sundays and public holidays. Applicants need to book appointments online through the Passport Seva portal before visiting the centre.

Services include fresh passport applications, re-issues, and changes in personal particulars. The centre is equipped with biometric capture systems and document verification counters.

Officials said the facility follows the same standards as other Passport Seva Kendras. The staff have been trained to handle applications efficiently and reduce waiting times.

Reducing the burden on existing centres

The Kolathur POPSK is expected to ease the load on the Anna Nagar Regional Passport Office and other centres in the city. Residents of northern Chennai often complained about long travel distances and crowded facilities.

A senior postal department official said the centre can process around 150 to 200 applications daily. This capacity may be expanded based on demand in the coming months.

The government has been pushing the POPSK model since 2017 to decentralise passport services. India Post has over 400 such centres across the country, with several in Tamil Nadu.

How to apply

Applicants must register on the Passport Seva website and book an appointment at the Kolathur POPSK. The appointment confirmation is mandatory for entry.

Documents required include address proof, identity proof, and date of birth certificate. The centre will verify originals and accept photocopies. Fees remain the same as other centres and can be paid online or through a demand draft.

Police verification will continue to be handled separately by the local police authorities. The timeline for passport issuance remains unchanged at 30 to 45 days for normal applications.

Local residents welcomed the move. Many said it would save them hours of travel each week. The Kolathur area has seen rapid residential growth over the past decade, and the new centre addresses a long-standing demand for closer government services.

The Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts are expected to open more such centres in other parts of the state. Officials have not yet confirmed the next location in the pipeline.