Balasore: The much-awaited passport centre was inaugurated here on Saturday on the premises of the local head post office.

It became operational for the people of Balasore and Bhadrak districts from Sunday. Local MP R.K. Jena inaugurated the Passport Seva Kendra on Saturday.

"The long-standing demand of the people of the region has finally been fulfilled. There was a time when one had to wait for four to five months to get passport. But, things have changed now and passports are now available within three to four weeks," said Jena.

Regional passport officer Digvijay Giri said after the Passport Seva Kendra was opened in Balasore after similar centres in Rourkela, Sambalpur and Koraput.

"After Balasore, a Passport Seva Kendra will be opened in Berhampur on Monday, in Baripada on Wednesday and in Bhawanipatna on next Saturday," said Giri.

"Passport processing - including photography and document verification - for around 40 applicants will be carried out every day in these centres. This centres have been empowered to do everything, except issuing tatkal passports," he said.

People of Balasore had been demanding for a passport service centre in the district for long. Three passport camps had been organized here during 2016-2017.

Chief post master general, Odisha circle, S.K. Kamila said: "Another feather has been added in the services of the postal department with the launch of the Passport Seva Kendra."

Joint secretary, Union ministry of external affairs, Manoj Mohapatra, who was present on the occasion, said the regional passport centre would help many people who otherwise had to go to Bhubaneswar for obtaining a passport.

"The procedure for obtaining a passport under tatkal scheme has also been made simpler. The requirement is Aadhaar card and an undertaking stating that the applicant has no police case pending against him or her," said Giri.