Patna: Residents of Gaya district will get easier access to passport services as the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Patna, is set to organise special Passport Seva Mobile Van Camps in Bodhgaya and Sherghati later this month.
The Bodhgaya camp will be held on September 21 and 22 at the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, while the Sherghati camp will run from September 23 to 25 at the Sub-Divisional Office Campus.
The initiative is part of the Ministry of External Affairs’ “Passport Seva – Passport at Your Doorstep” outreach programme, which aims to take passport services closer to citizens and improve access to public services.
275 Appointment Slots Available
A total of 275 appointment slots have been released for the five-day camps.
The Bodhgaya camp will have 110 slots, with 55 slots available on each of the two days. The Sherghati camp will have 165 slots, with 55 appointments available each day.
Applicants can book their appointments through the official Passport Seva Portal by selecting the relevant Passport Seva Mobile Van Camp location.
Applicants have been advised to complete all mandatory documentation before visiting the camp and report according to the time slot mentioned in their appointment confirmation.
Gaya Sees 75.5% Rise In Applications
The mobile camps are being organised as demand for passport services in Gaya continues to grow.
According to the RPO, the number of passport applications received increased from 7,518 in 2021 to 13,193 in 2025, marking a 75.5% rise.
Applications processed also increased from 6,988 in 2021 to 12,380 during the same period, representing a 77.2% growth.
The special camps are intended to supplement the services provided by the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK), Gaya, which receives a high volume of applications.
Second Mobile Camp In Gaya District
The upcoming camps will be the 21st Passport Seva Mobile Van Camp organised by RPO Patna in Bihar since April 2024.
They will also mark the second such camp in Gaya district. The first was organised at IIM Bodhgaya in 2024.
The RPO said around 3,000 applicants have benefited from mobile passport camps organised at different locations across Bihar.
Bodhgaya Camp To Begin On September 21
The Bodhgaya camp will be jointly inaugurated on September 21 by Gaya District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar, IAS, and Regional Passport Officer, Patna, Swadha Rizvi, IFS.
The two-day Bodhgaya camp will be followed by the three-day camp at Sherghati from September 23 to 25.
Revised Passport Fees Will Apply
The revised passport application fee effective from July 1, 2026 will apply to applications submitted during the mobile camps.
Applicants have been advised to check the applicable fee and eligibility requirements before submitting their applications.
The RPO has also encouraged eligible applicants to use DigiLocker for secure submission and verification of documents wherever applicable. The facility can reduce dependence on physical documents during the application process.
RPO Warns Applicants Against Unauthorised Agents
Citizens have been advised to rely only on official sources for information about passport services, appointments and special camps.
The RPO has also urged applicants to avoid unauthorised agents or intermediaries and ensure that their application forms and supporting documents are complete before attending the camps.
The mobile camps are aimed at making passport services more accessible to residents of Gaya and adjoining areas, particularly those who may otherwise have to travel farther to access passport facilities.
