Faster passport for elderly, new parents, digi-vault users at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Kolkata’s Anandapur
Times of India | 28 November 2025
Kolkata: Senior citizens, parents with infants, and applicants who share documents via DigiLocker can now expect significantly faster service at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Anandapur, thanks to a series of measures introduced by the Regional Passport Office.
The PSK has launched an S-token (Special Token) system to prioritise vulnerable or time-sensitive applicants, reducing their waiting time substantially. "A normal N-token usually involves a 45–55 minute process for document verification, photo capture, and biometrics," a regional passport office official said. "But for senior citizens and parents with infants, S-tokens are issued. These applications are processed on a tatkal basis."
Applicants who enable access to their DigiLocker—the govt's secure cloud-based document vault—are being routed to a special counter that fast-tracks the verification process. Since Officials can validate DigiLocker records instantly.
Applicants opting for this route must download the DigiLocker app and fetch documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, or educational certificates directly from the repository before linking it to the Passport Seva portal.
For individuals with urgent travel needs, the passport office also allows emergency walk-in appointments. Applicants must submit a written request detailing the urgency, along with an emergency passport proforma. "A response usually arrives within 2 to 3 days, followed by a walk-in appointment slot," the official said.
But passport issuance timelines continue to be affected by stringent police verification, which may stretch up to a month. The tougher checks follow a major scandal in which over 600 passports were issued based on forged documents. "A police officer and two postal employees have already been apprehended," the official confirmed.The passport office has also been conducting special enquiry camps and passport adalats.