Surat Passport Backlog Triggers Transfer of RPO Yogesh Patel to Delhi

Surat | Gujarat — In a significant administrative shake-up, the Ministry of External Affairs has transferred Surat Regional Passport Officer (RPO) Yogesh Patel to Delhi with immediate effect, following mounting complaints over severe delays in passport issuance that left thousands of ordinary citizens frustrated. The move comes after grievances were escalated to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, highlighting systemic inefficiencies at the Surat Passport Office.

Ahmedabad Regional Passport Director Abhijit Shukla has now been given additional charge of the Surat Passport Office, replacing Patel. Sources said the decision aims to restore public confidence and clear the growing backlog of applications that has plagued applicants across South Gujarat for months.

While passport offices often face seasonal pressure, the situation in Surat had reached a tipping point. Not only ordinary citizens but also elected MPs and MLAs reportedly complained to the Central Government after waiting for months for passports, despite repeated follow-ups and recommendations.

“Passport recommendations should work for common citizens as well, not only for elected representatives,” a senior official remarked, underlining the core grievance that sparked the controversy.

Discontent over the Surat Passport Office’s functioning is not new. When Darshana Jardosh served as Union Minister of State for Textiles and Railways, she had openly expressed displeasure over the slow pace of passport issuance in Surat. At that time, the delays were already affecting students, job seekers, and families planning to travel abroad.

Thousands of applicants from South Gujarat were reportedly caught in limbo, with files remaining pending for weeks and even months. This led to growing anger among the public, many of whom claimed that repeated visits to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) yielded no clear timelines or accountability.

Sources from the Surat PSK, however, said that Yogesh Patel’s transfer coincided with the completion of his three-year tenure, and termed it a routine administrative move. Patel’s name continues to feature in official directories, suggesting the transfer is part of a broader reshuffle.

Yet, controversy has followed Patel’s tenure. There have been instances where decisions taken by the Surat RPO were challenged beyond India, including cases that reportedly reached the Czech High Court, adding to questions around administrative handling.

With Abhijit Shukla now overseeing the Surat Passport Office, expectations are high that the backlog will be addressed swiftly.

“The priority is to ensure timely passport services for every eligible citizen, without discrimination,” a source close to the development said.

For thousands waiting anxiously, the transfer is being seen as a signal that prolonged delays and public inconvenience will no longer be ignored.