Regional passport officer admits delay in passport appointments

Bangalore, Sep 4: While the passport issuance from Bangalore is second highest after Hyderabad in the country, the regional passport office says the shortage of staff and growing demand for the most coveted document is their problem.

Out of 16,000 online appointment slots that are issued daily from 6:30pm for an hour, 12,000 are for the passport seva kendras (PSKs) in Bangalore.

Regional passport officer, PS Karthigeyan said, "The appointments have increased by 18% while the shortage of staff is also growing at 10%.

Off this, seven to eight per cent are for tatkal appointments and 240 tatkal appointments are issued separately by me from the regional headquarters. I admit that the waiting time to get an online appointment is between 30-34 days in case of Bangalore PSKs but if people can show their urgency for tatkal application, I am available to issue them an appointment everyday between 9:30am and 12:30pm."

He also said that the shortage of booklets in the recent past had delayed delivery of passports but now it has been completely resolved.

"There is no pendency now. We are also incentivizing the police to send police verification reports within 21 days and get Rs 150 per report," Kathrigeyan added. He also announced that the Gulbarga application collection centre will soon be turned into a mini PSK.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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