CKGS to take over servicing of Indian passports from BLS starting May 7

The processing of Indian passports will be outsourced to the Cox and Kings Global Services (CKGS), from May 7, Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, India's consul general in New York, announced at an informal meeting at the consulate with the local Indian press, March 30.

The current service provider, BLS, will accept the applications for new passports and renewals till April 22, after which, till May 6, they will accept only emergency (Tatkal) applications.

Currently the CKGS processes Indian visas, OCI Cards and renunciation certificates. CKGS is to set up another office to provide passport services, according to Dr Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, the deputy consul general.

Ambassador Das said the consulate would work to ensure that customers would face no problems when CKGS steps in to process passports as had happened when it first took on the processing of visas and OCI cards.

The journalists persisted in expressing concerns about a history of problems in procuring Indian passports and visas. Ambassador Das and Dr Mohapatra reiterated that the process has now been revised, was transparent, with all details available online.

Dr Mohapatra added that if all the requisite documents were attached and properly filled, the passports and visas could be provided under the ‘Tatkal’ scheme within hours.

“I have provided my personal email and personal office phone number on the website. Should anyone call me with a query, it will be addressed immediately,” he said.

Ambassador Das said it was important for people to become cognizant of the online process.

“Even in India, everything from paying the gas and electricity bill to booking a train ticket is done online,” she said. “It is important to make this transition for each and every Indian, and keep up with what is going on.” She added that there was no need to rely on agents and other outside parties to do the paperwork.

A few journalists asked that the consulate interact with the press more frequently and efficiently.

“We do plan to have more such interactions in the near future. We realize that communication with the media is the key to reaching out to the people. There will be a lot of focus on outreach,” the ambassador said.

The consulate already offers its ballroom to showcase local Indian talent, and a variety of exhibitions and shows are held at the consulate throughout the year.

“We are organizing the third Regional Hindi Sammelan here next month. The second International Day of Yoga is also going to be held again in June,” Ambassador Das said.

She also sought media's cooperation in spreading the consulate's messages across the community and said her priorities included further improvement in consular services, community interaction, outreach events, education and trade and commerce.

As part of efforts to strengthen ties with local Indian communities the ambassador is to lead a delegation of diplomats and officials from the banking, tourism, and aviation sectors, to Albany, New York, April 15-16, for an outreach program at the Hindu Cultural Center there.

The two-part event on Saturday April 16 will begin with a camp for consular services from 9 am to 2 pm, followed by the main outreach program and a networking event from 5 pm to 8 pm. The delegation is expected to meet with various officials and members of the business community.

Applicants there for visa, OCI and renunciation certificates need to make online appointments and complete their online application forms before the camp begins.

Das will be visiting Cincinnati, Ohio, April 21-23 to interact with US officials and the Indian community. She will also address the community at a reception at the Atrium Hotel pril 22.

On April 23 the consulate, in association with CKGS, will organize a camp about consular services in Cincinnati. For more details, visit: www.in.ckgs.us

Contact: Ruchi Sharma: [email protected]