Patna: A new passport service centre is set to open in Bihar’s West Champaran district later this month, in a move aimed at improving access to government services in remote areas.
The ministry of external affairs said a post office passport seva kendra (POPSK) will be inaugurated on April 13 in Ram Nagar, under the Valmiki Nagar parliamentary constituency. The facility will operate under the regional passport office in Patna and will be housed at the local sub-post office premises.
The centre will be formally opened by the constituency’s member of parliament, alongside state legislators and officials from the ministry, India Post and the regional passport office.
Officials said the new POPSK is intended to reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for passport-related services, particularly benefiting those in underserved parts of the district. Applicants will be able to submit fresh applications, renew passports and apply for police clearance certificates at the facility.
The centre will offer 45 daily appointment slots for passport services and five for police clearance certificates. Applicants will be required to visit the centre once for document verification and biometric capture, after which passports are expected to be delivered by speed post within about five days, subject to police verification and application clearance.
The Ram Nagar facility will be the 454th POPSK in India and the 38th in Bihar. With its launch, passport services will be available across all 40 parliamentary constituencies in the state, according to the ministry.
The government has also expanded outreach efforts through mobile passport service camps in remote areas. Since 2024, 17 such camps have been organised in Bihar, including one in Bagaha in West Champaran.
Demand for passport services in the district has risen steadily in recent years. In 2024, more than 21,700 applications were submitted, rising to over 26,700 in 2025 – an increase of more than 23%. The figures also show a notable rise in applications from women, as well as the issuance of passports to transgender applicants.
Officials said the growth reflects increasing awareness, improved outreach and rising mobility aspirations among residents. West Champaran has ranked among the top 10 districts in Bihar for passport applications and issuances over the past two years.
The ministry said the new centre forms part of a broader effort to expand access to public services and improve ease of living through more localised and citizen-friendly delivery systems.
