Getting a passport in mumbai

I don’t like to visit government offices but was forced to do so recently. Primary motivation was constant hassle of proving my identity and address. I have quite a few documents but some offices will accept only passport or ration card (don’t be surprised- Indian government still issues ration cards to distribute whatever grain doesn’t get rotten after rains). So I started on a crusade to get my address changed in passport. Unfortunately my earlier passport was from Kolkatta so I had to go through entire process of a new passport in Mumbai. Here are details of process for those who might need the info in future.

First thing I did instinctively was to google for any info that might be available on net. I found a few nice blogs and also “online passport website” of government of India. Obviously I was pleasantly surprised to find Indian government Online! I immediately checked the website and found that online application is possible only for issue of new passport / reissue. Idiots like me who wanted to get foolish things like address updated must go and burn in the Agni of great Indian bureaucracy. Motivated by possibility of avoiding babus and chaparasis, I decided to wait till I was eligible to apply for reissue of passport (That’s one years before your passport expires. I just happed to be lucky that my passport was expiring soon). On exact date when I became illegible, I applied online for reissue of passport. When I finally finished the online application I almost cried with joy. Not only I was given very clear instructions on which documents to bring but I was also given an appointment time in passport office so that I wouldn’t have to wait in those long queues. I reported cheerfully with documents to worli passport office on given time. But alas! That was territory of babus! I was flatly told that the appointment time given in acknowledgement from the website was only for decorative purposes and I would have to join the long queue like everyone else. Since I know better than arguing with government chaps, I joined the queue and waited for two hours before the great moment of appearance before the passport clerk came. Next was another well known trouble with government clerk- The lady there told me that no matter what was written in her ministry’s website I must bring two of the documents mentioned in list instead of one to prove my address. I have many bank accounts and I produced account statements from 3-4 banks. But she told me only state bank account statements are considered a valid address proof! Luckily I had one state bank of travancore account from my college days. She didn’t notice travancore and was impressed by state bank logo. But I still had to submit another proof as per her rules. When I told her to give in writing that the website rules don’t apply she simply managed to find some stupid typo in my application and rejected my application on that basis. Having wasted my 5 hours and wiser by years, I headed back to office.

Better informed now, I again applied online for a fresh appointment and insured no typos this time. I also arranged to get a leave on that date so I can devote entire day to the serious business at hand. This time I was certainly better prepared. I packed a huge folder with every possible document with my address in it. In addition, I packed myself well for the battle ahead- few horlicks bars, water bottles, umbrella, all sorts of stationary- blank papers, photographs, scissors, glue etc, And finally few nice thick novels. I started early in morning only to find myself in after 100 odd people in the queue. Somehow, I was called before I ran out of my stock of water and food. I presented my case to the clerk and started throwing various address proofs one by one at him. But this clerk found it amusing and told me that all those documents were not needed and whatever I had given in the beginning was perfectly fine! Maybe speed with which I started throwing documents had a shock effect J Anyway this chap turned out to be extremely professional and quickly finished the scrutiny. Then I was directed to join another queue where fees were to be deposited. Unluckily for me the ancient computer in the counter breathed its last just when I was to submit my fees. That accounted for another 30 minutes of misery but finally I emerged victorious from the battle. War, as they say, was a different story.

Out of passport office, I proudly took out my fees receipt (making it a point that unfortunate ones still waiting outside in queue see it and burn with envy). Surprise again- helpline numbers of both passport office and mumbai police are printed on receipt to check status of police verification and passport issue. That’s some mix of professionalism and babuiri! Anyway, after few days I checked online and got to know that my file had gone for police verification. So I called the mumbai police help line from the receipt. Few hiccups and finally the lady there manage to figure out that my file had gone to andheri police station for verification. Since the file had already been rotting there for 10 days, next day I visited police station for enquiry. The chap in charge there turned out to be quite nice and told me that he will send someone that day itself. And sure enough shortly came a havaldar to my home and made serious inquiries indeed. He even asked neighbors and security guard if I stayed there. Satisfied that I had little probability of links with terrorists, he issued a challan to me. The challan instructed me to come to police station with documents within three days. Next evening I visited the station as per time mentioned in challan. There I notice a huge board telling everyone to visit only between 10:30-1:30 in the morning. So, next day I took passport leave number two and presented myself to in-charge there. He was very amused that I had submitted only two documents at passport office. Not satisfied by my argument that no document was needed for re-issue, he told me to bring telephone/ electricity bill. Since I had already taken leave for the day to take care of such contingencies, I had no difficulty in satisfying his requirements. Once he was happy with my telephone bills he finally approved my file and told me to appear for “interview with bada sahab” next day evening. Luckily for me, the time he gave was 830 so could manage without a leave. Next day, I found a motley bunch of people waiting for the mysterious interview with bada sahab. Soon my turn came and I had to go and tell bada saab my name, date of birth and address. Satisfied, he put some ticks on file and signed it and I returned home happily. Think once passport office gets police verification they will issue me a passport. But you never know how Indian government can surprise you. So keeping my fingers crossed and praying to hanumanji everyday morning for now.