(At the outset, a shoutout and heartfelt thanks to TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) for such a seamless experience. The only thing I can potentially complain about is the waiting, but we are a populated country, and I am grateful that I did not get hot, dehydrated, or hungry during the wait.)
This post details my October 2022 experience at Passport Seva Kendra, Andheri, Mumbai.
My purpose was renewal.
The process you will go through will be the same as mentioned in this blog- only the documents will differ depending on the service you seek.
I applied for a renewal from the official website.
(Note: There is a strict no-photography policy at these centers- all such images posted here have been sourced from other websites and duly acknowledged.)
The appointment time was 12:30 PM, and reporting time 12:15 PM.
Google Maps navigation location is spot on, and I arrived at 12:10 PM.
There is street parking available. Building parking is only for the employees. Also saw many autos waiting for a fare.
I received the appointment receipt in the email, which said that just showing the SMS on your phone suffices for entry, but I did not get that SMS and thus carried a printed copy.
Personnel at the main gate and the entrance to the main office checked my appointment receipt.
Facilities available at this center:
- Photocopying.
- Newspaper declarations for name change (ask at the reception for details).
- Snack and coffee counter by Cafe Coffee Day.
- ATMs.
- Water cooler with filter.
- Toilets (clean, too!).
Here is how you will proceed, sequence-wise, at the center:
- Reception
- Processing Zone (PZ)
- Verification Zone (VZ)
- Granting Zone (GZ)
At the reception (after preliminary paper check), you will be given a token number, and you proceed to the waiting areas. Token numbers flash on the TV screen. All the above zones are in sequence, and there is a waiting period between them.
Waiting room. The screens will flash the token numbers.
| Zone | Purpose | Duration of wait for turn | Duration of processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reception | Preliminary check to see if all your papers (original & photocopy) are available & in order. | 3 mins. | < 1 minute |
| Processing Zone | Biometric & photography. | <1 min. | ~ 5 mins |
| Verification Zone | By govt. officer- verification of your originals. | 1.05 hours | ~ 2 mins |
| Granting Zone | By govt. officer- final verification and granting of acknowledgment letter (comes in email) | 1.50 hours | ~ 2 mins |
(Duration of processing may vary. I saw some with incomplete papers, which took quite some time for them)
The exit is separate from entry and is just next to the Granting Zone.
Pertinent points:
- Entry is strictly for the applicant only. Children, differently abled, and the elderly are allowed a parent/ guardian.
- At the reception, the officer found the photocopy quality poor. It should be clear and sharp– mine were not, and they asked me to get another copy. This center is equipped with a photocopy counter, and at just Rs.2/- per document page, I got good images that were approved.
- At the Processing Zone, a computer screen faces you, and every detail typed by the officer sitting across from you will be visible to you in real time. Any mistakes in typing should be brought to their attention. They will also ask you to take a look before they finalize the entry.
- You will have the option to get your photograph taken again, if you do not like it. I know someone who got his clicked 5 times!
- You are allowed handheld devices, and I even saw some working on their laptop– time will pass faster.
- The whole area is centrally airconditioned.
- Look to spend 2 to 3 hours.
- Masks are not required, but I was wearing one and would recommend its use in any closed environment.
- The officials are calm, collected, and very professional.
Trivia
Here is how India stands on her passport rank of 87 as compared to Japan (which has the most powerful passport) and the economic powerhouse of the world, USA.
