LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3646
ANSWERED ON- 13/03/2026
PASSPORT OFFICE IN SIRMAUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
†3646. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the general public especially of Nahan town under Sirmaur district of Shimla Parliamentary constituency have to go Shimla at present for passport related services, which is an extremely difficult, time-consuming and expensive affair due to the difficult and hilly geographical conditions, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the need for a passport office or passport service centre in Nahan town is being felt for a long time in view of the geographical location, population and increasing demand for passport services in Sirmaur district, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering setting up a passport office or passport service centre in Nahan town of Sirmaur district; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the likely timeline fixed for the said purpose?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)
(a to d) In 2017, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in association with Department of Posts (DoP) had announced opening of Passport Seva Kendras at the Head Post Offices/Post Offices called Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) in each Lok Sabha Constituency (LSC) where there is no Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or POPSK. Under this initiative, a PSK is already functional at Shimla in the Shimla LSC and Nahan town falls under Shimla LSC. Moreover, in June 2018, Ministry had launched the ‘Apply anywhere in India’ scheme under which a passport can be applied at any PSK/POPSK in India. Hence, passport applicants from the Nahan town can also apply in PSK Dehradun, under Regional Passport Office, Dehradun, which is approximately 90 Kms. from Nahan. Also, MEA has been regularly deploying Mobile Passport Van under respective RPOs, including RPO, Shimla, for on-site passport processing in rural/remote/hilly and under-served areas.
******