SHILLONG: Despite assurance from Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that the passport office in Shillong would be made functional from August-end, the same is yet to become a reality.
Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Passport) Department, Rowell Lyngdoh, on Sunday said that the department was yet to get any intimation from the Union Ministry on the inauguration of the passport office in Shillong.
“We are ready with the infrastructure and only a date needs to be set for inauguration of the office by the Union Ministry,” Lyngdoh said.
With infrastructural support from the State Government coupled with a sanction of Rs.30 lakh from the Centre, the State PWD carried out the civil and electrical works to get the office in shape for its inauguration.
According to Lyngdoh, officials and other personnel chosen to man the passport kendra have already been trained and were ready to discharge their duties.
Once functional, the passport office would ease the burden of hundreds of applicants from the State who have to travel to Guwahati to obtain their passports.
