|
|
With a view to improve passport services in India, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has inked a pact with the government. The Passport Seva Project was signed between Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry R. Swaminathan and TCS Vice-President Tanmoy Chakraborty. Under the new passport project, about 10 million people will be given passports in 2011. There will 77 new passport centers in India besides increasing the number of counters from 345 to 1,250.
According to foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon, the recent step is taken keeping in mind the increasing demand of passports in the country. He also assured of maintaining high standard security while operating this project. TCS is reported to have paid Rs.10-15 billion to bag the contract from the government. At the initial period, the Passport Seva Project is supposed to be implemented at two cities for about eight months.
Out of eight companies TCS turned out as the best bidder and that's why the contract has been given to it, informed a government official. This private-public initiative will surely improve the issuing of passports in India. Besides the increase of passport counters will also reduce traffic to a considerable extent. It is estimated that from 2000 to 2008 about six million passports have been issued.
