B'lore One to start file-tracking system for passport applicants

B'lore One to start file-tracking system for passport applicants
Thursday December 20 2007 07:52 IST

Nandini Chandrashekar

Buy/Sell/Rent Property of your Choice in your City.

BANGALORE: As part of its expanding services, Bangalore One will soon offer file tracking system for passport applicants who have submitted their applications at Bangalore One centres.

For the first time, this system by B One will offer details about the status of application once it goes to Commissioner of Police (COP) office and subsequently to the respective zones and local police stations.

Traditionally, the police verification process takes the longest time in processing a passport application. The present tracking facility offered on the Regional Passport Office (RPO) website, merely gives out the status as ‘waiting for police clearance’.

Applicants have no clue about whether the forms have even reached their police stations. With the new system, they can track the application every step of the way right from Bangalore One office to despatch of the passport. This facility will be available only for residents of Bangalore.

Under the project, the staff at COP which processes the forms, can do away with manually entering the information onto the register as B One staff members would have already uploaded the file information onto the software before sending the files to the COP office.

So, all that COP staff would have to do is derive the data digitally from the software. Assistant Director, Bangalore One, Shashidhar Sarang Math says that the processB'lore One to start file-tracking system for passport applicants
Thursday December 20 2007 07:52 IST

Nandini Chandrashekar

Buy/Sell/Rent Property of your Choice in your City.

BANGALORE: As part of its expanding services, Bangalore One will soon offer file tracking system for passport applicants who have submitted their applications at Bangalore One centres.

For the first time, this system by B One will offer details about the status of application once it goes to Commissioner of Police (COP) office and subsequently to the respective zones and local police stations.

Traditionally, the police verification process takes the longest time in processing a passport application. The present tracking facility offered on the Regional Passport Office (RPO) website, merely gives out the status as ‘waiting for police clearance’.

Applicants have no clue about whether the forms have even reached their police stations. With the new system, they can track the application every step of the way right from Bangalore One office to despatch of the passport. This facility will be available only for residents of Bangalore.

Under the project, the staff at COP which processes the forms, can do away with manually entering the information onto the register as B One staff members would have already uploaded the file information onto the software before sending the files to the COP office.

So, all that COP staff would have to do is derive the data digitally from the software. Assistant Director, Bangalore One, Shashidhar Sarang Math says that the process will also be eased considerably as B One will also provide the list of probable police stations for each application, based on the pin code to the COP staff.

The system was supposed to have been implemented a few months ago, but ran into problems due to software and manpower issues. B One staff has now tweaked the software to get rid of the problems.

Interestingly enough, COP office is waiting for the setting up of broadband connections necessary for transferring the data. In all likelihood, the software will probably be ready before the broadband connection.

ACP Krishne Urs opines that the new process will be very beneficial for the public, but will not reduce the workload on his staff as the same set of processes have to be followed in a different format.

But he admits that it will definitely reduce the number of enquiries they get from people, who are unaware of the status of their forms.

If the project works out well, then this data interlinking is expected to benefit the applicants at RPO as well. The passport office is also keen on implementing the system will also be eased considerably as B One will also provide the list of probable police stations for each application, based on the pin code to the COP staff.

The system was supposed to have been implemented a few months ago, but ran into problems due to software and manpower issues. B One staff has now tweaked the software to get rid of the problems.

Interestingly enough, COP office is waiting for the setting up of broadband connections necessary for transferring the data. In all likelihood, the software will probably be ready before the broadband connection.

ACP Krishne Urs opines that the new process will be very beneficial for the public, but will not reduce the workload on his staff as the same set of processes have to be followed in a different format.

But he admits that it will definitely reduce the number of enquiries they get from people, who are unaware of the status of their forms.

If the project works out well, then this data interlinking is expected to benefit the applicants at RPO as well. The passport office is also keen on implementing the system