Passport Drive Chaos in Surat: Citizens Denied Access, Agents Favoured

Surat, Gujarat – A special passport drive at the Udhna Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Surat turned into a nightmare for over 900 applicants, who alleged mismanagement, lack of transparency, and blatant favoritism toward agents. The much-publicised “Special Drive” by the Surat Passport Office on Saturday saw chaotic scenes, angry citizens, and serious accusations of corruption.

There was no official notification, but a simple press statement stating that appointment rescheduling for both normal and tatkal passport applications would be allowed on Saturday, most applicants who turned up at the Passport Seva Kendra in Surat were denied entry. Adding to the fury, the advertisement about the drive appeared in newspapers only a day prior — a move many claim was intentional to benefit agents who had already blocked appointments in advance.

“This was not a special drive for citizens, it was a special privilege for agents,” said Hetal Kapadia, a management consultant who was denied access despite having an appointment scheduled for a later date. “I saw people who clearly got appointments through agents, even when no normal slots were visible online. It’s clear this system is being manipulated.”

Kapadia further alleged deep-rooted corruption in the Surat Passport Office. “Agents are charging more than ₹5,000 for tatkal passports, and a cut clearly goes to the officials,” he claimed. Frustrated by the treatment he received and the absence of any senior officer at the PSK to address grievances, Kapadia has vowed to escalate the issue. “I will write to the Ministry of External Affairs and demand a probe into the Surat office’s operations,” he said.

“Claims of favoritism and corruption are entirely speculative,” said RPO Chief Yogesh Patel,  “Public allegations must be based on verifiable facts, not conjecture”

The passport office’s official communication stated that the special drive was meant to help citizens who either missed their earlier appointments or had bookings for later dates. However, on the ground, the experience was far from smooth. Several applicants who reached the PSK with the hope of rescheduling were turned away without explanation, while agents and their clients sailed through the process.

The Ministry of External Affairs had announced these drives as part of a broader initiative to streamline passport services in high-demand cities. But in Surat, the initiative appears to have only deepened public distrust.

As complaints pile up, citizens now demand urgent intervention by the Ministry to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in passport services. If not addressed, the Surat PSK risks becoming a symbol of systemic failure in what should be a citizen-centric process.