Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Regional Passport Office (RPO) has received a prestigious national award for its innovative and citizen-friendly approach to delivering passport services.
The award was presented at the Regional Passport Officers’ Conference held in New Delhi, where Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, felicitated Hyderabad RPO officer Snehaja Jonnalagadda with the honour.
This recognition highlights the RPO’s pioneering initiatives and citizen-centric reforms introduced during 2024–25, aimed at enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and overall user experience in passport services.
Notable among these initiatives is the “Thursday Grievance Redressal” program, which enables citizens with passport-related concerns to visit the office every Thursday and submit their complaints in person. The Hyderabad RPO has also conducted cleanliness drives to revamp its premises and released a special commemorative passport envelope to mark the 75th Constitution Day.
Additionally, the Hyderabad RPO launched a year-long Art and Calligraphy Exhibition, inaugurated by the Governor of Telangana, celebrating artistic expression and cultural heritage.
Other impactful initiatives include cyber awareness campaigns, medical health camps, proactive public engagement through social media, and rainwater conservation efforts — all reinforcing the RPO’s commitment to holistic, citizen-first governance.
Operational efficiency has been another cornerstone of the Hyderabad RPO’s success. The office has notably reduced the backlog of pending applications while consistently upholding high service standards.
At present, appointment wait times stand at just 1–10 days for regular applicants and 1–5 days for those applying under the Tatkal scheme. Grievances are being addressed promptly, and under the Passport Seva 2.0 initiative, the office has also rolled out e-passports, enhancing both convenience and security for citizens.
