Passport Services Disrupted for Second Day in Major Indian Cities; Thousands of Applicants Affected
April 10, 2025 | New Delhi
A major technical glitch has brought passport services to a standstill for the second consecutive day in several major Indian cities, including Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi, leaving thousands of applicants stranded, confused, and frustrated.
Citizens who had booked appointments weeks or even months in advance were met with long queues, lack of official communication, and abrupt cancellations. In Pune, operations at the Ghorpadi Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) were completely halted, with no prior notice given to applicants.
“I reached at 12:30 PM for a 3:30 PM appointment and received no SMS or email about the cancellation,” said Nilesh Jadhav, who had an urgent overseas assignment. “Eventually, a staff member told me to either reschedule or travel to Solapur. That’s not feasible in my situation.”
The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Mumbai acknowledged the issue via social media, stating:
“Appointments at all PSKs/POPSKs under RPO Mumbai are suspended till 1 PM today due to server issues. Affected applicants may reschedule to a later date.”
The office also clarified that individuals who had already exhausted the maximum of three rescheduling attempts would be allowed an additional one.
Tatkal and Minor Applicants Hit Hard
Among the worst affected were applicants under the Tatkal scheme and parents of minors. Rahul Singhvi, a parent, took to social media to express his frustration:
“My child missed school for a passport appointment, only to find it cancelled without any notice. A simple heads-up would’ve helped.”
Another Pune resident seeking Tatkal renewal reported that the earliest rescheduling option was May 13—over a month away.
In Delhi, scenes of chaos were reported from the Jhandewalan PSK. One user posted on social media:
“It’s already 1 PM and they’re still attending to 9–10 AM appointments. There’s no notice, no explanation. People are stranded and confused. This is unacceptable. #PassportSeva #PSKIssues”
Travel Plans in Jeopardy
For many, the disruption has put international travel plans at risk. Reema Dsouza, who was forced to travel from Pune to Solapur with her children after her Tatkal slot was cancelled at midnight, said she found no appointments available for the rest of April. “There’s no contingency plan. We’re stuck,” she said.
Karan Verma, a Pune resident from Warje, highlighted the poor timing:
“Friday is Mahavir Jayanti, followed by the weekend, then Ambedkar Jayanti on Monday. There won’t be any clarity until Tuesday. My Australia business trip is now uncertain.”
Others like Ramesh Patel, who traveled 25 km from Bavdhan for his 2:15 PM appointment in Mundhwa, faced harsh conditions. “I waited in 40°C heat for over two hours. I was eventually told to return in six weeks,” he said. “I had taken leave from work, and my employer is chasing me for passport renewal.”
Senior Citizens Endure Tough Conditions
Elderly applicants were among the most impacted. “There were no chairs or drinking water. We waited under trees for shade,” said one senior citizen. “Eventually, we were told to come back after May 28. This all could have been avoided with proper communication.”
Authorities Respond
A senior passport official confirmed that the issue was not localized and affected PSKs nationwide.
“We are actively working to resolve the technical failure. Services are expected to resume soon,” the official said.
For now, however, applicants are left in limbo, uncertain of when operations will return to normal, and anxious about missed travel deadlines, school obligations, and business commitments.
