Guwahati: In what could redefine last-mile delivery of citizen services in the Northeast, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rolled out its Passport Mobile Van Service in Assam, with Guwahati becoming the latest hub under the nationwide expansion of the Passport Seva- Aapke Dwar initiative.
At a time when rural mobility, digital governance, and citizen inclusion are emerging as key pillars of policy in India’s border states, the move marks a strategic shift in how the government is decentralizing access to essential travel documentation—a requirement closely tied to global employability, cross-border education, and migration for work.
The van was launched by K.J. Srinivasa, Joint Secretary (MEA) and Chief Passport Officer, at Guwahati University on July 13. The service will operate under the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Guwahati, with technical implementation by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the national passport project partner.
"This mobile van is designed as a one-stop digital passport office. From application and document scan to biometric capture everything is done on the move," said Srinivasa at the event.
The Guwahati launch is part of a larger infrastructure overhaul. As of July 2025, the MEA has deployed one mobile van per each of India’s 37 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs). In coming quarters, the Ministry plans to scale this to 2–3 vans per region prioritising areas with low PSK (Passport Seva Kendra) density.
Each van operates as a full-service PSK on wheels, offering:
1. On-the-spot document verification
2. Real-time biometric capture
3. Digital upload to the central Passport Seva system
4. Live data sync with police verification systems
The van's reach is targeted towards districts without static Passport Seva Kendras, especially in border and hilly regions of Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, regions where access challenges routinely delay citizen documentation.
The RPO Guwahati currently manages 6 full-fledged PSKs, 19 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across six northeastern states.
The mobile van adds a much-needed layer to this ecosystem, expected to reduce rural applicant wait time by up to 40%, according to MEA internal projections.
“This ensures that no citizen is left behind due to geography,” said an MEA official who was part of the implementation review in Assam.
While Guwahati-specific utilisation data is awaited, similar deployments elsewhere reveal strong demand and throughput:
1. Kerala (since Jan 2025):
Over 1,000 passport applications processed
2. 30–45 applicants per mobile camp per day
3. Camps conducted in over 12 districts, many without PSK access
4. Ghaziabad (U.P., since late 2024):
Covers 13 districts, with mobile vans handling 50–100 applications daily
5. Led to 30% decongestion of the city’s main PSK, which earlier handled up to 1,400 footfalls per day
These figures form the operational template for Guwahati and are likely to guide the district-level rollout in Assam and adjoining states.
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The mobile van initiative is not just an administrative tool it signals a recalibration of India’s public service strategy, using digital and mobile infrastructure to ensure universal access to citizenship-linked services.
The effort is embedded within the broader Passport Seva 2.0 mission, which includes:
1. Launch of chip-enabled e-Passports
2. Digitised mPassport Police App for fast-tracked verification
3. A rapidly expanding POPSK network, now at over 440+ centres
India processed 1.65 crore passport services in 2023, averaging 14 lakh applications monthly. The addition of mobile vans is aimed at bridging the final access gap in states like Assam, where terrain, infrastructure, and connectivity often limit static service reach.
Srinivasa’s visit to Guwahati also included reviews at the Regional Passport Office and PSK facilities. He held discussions with key enforcement and postal officials, including, DGP Assam Harmeet Singh, ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath, CPMG Col. Arvind Verma.
The Chief Passport Officer also paid courtesy calls to Governor Laxman Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, briefing them on the Ministry’s digital passport issuance model.
Both state leaders reportedly commended the Ministry’s transparency and turnaround efficiency, terming it a model for citizen service innovation in high-need regions.
The RPO Guwahati is expected to release a district-wise camp schedule in the coming weeks. Citizens can book mobile camp slots through the Passport Seva Portal using a new “van” selection option. Performance tracking will include daily applicant throughput, turnaround time, and grievance resolution metrics
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