Long awaited by the citizens of Manipur, a Passport Seva Kendra was opened today at the old Assembly Complex, BT Road, Imphal.
“Citizens of Manipur will no longer have to travel to Guwahati to apply for Passport, it can be done here in the state with the opening of the Passport office here in Imphal”, said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh while addressing at the inaugural function of Passport Seva Kendra, Imphal. The Chief Minister urged both the home and external affairs Ministers to provide the facility of visa on arrival system in the state.
Attending the inaugural function as Chief Guest, Chief Minister, O. Ibobi said that people of the state used to travel to Guwahati to apply for Passport sparing lot of time.
He also urged both the Home and external Ministers to provide the facility of visa on arrival system at Imphal Airport and Moreh Custom Office. He added that Manipur being a border state to Myanmar, visa on arrival will be a great opportunity for tourism development. He drew attention of the external ministry to make the Imphal Tulihal Airport functional as International Airport.
Before the inaugural function at Imphal Hotel, the Chief Minister of the state, O. Ibobi, Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, Muktesh K Pardeshi, Joint Secretary, Passport Seva Project along with other officials inspected the old assembly complex where the Passport Seva Kendra was going to be opened.
While speaking on the occasion, Muktesh said that the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Imphal is the third in Northeast wherein the other two are at Aizawl and Shillong and more PSK to be opened in Northeast. He hoped that the PSK Imphal will now ease the trouble of travelling to Guwahati to apply Passport by the citizens of Manipur.
Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam said that opening of PSK Imphal is bringing other countries closer to Manipur. He added that such inaugural of PSK in Manipur will help expose the culture and tradition of Manipur to the outside world.