Rude Staff, Poor Amenities: Your visit to Hubballi’s Passport Office could become a nightmare
HUBBALLI: People from different districts visit the Passport Seva Kendra, located at the IT Park here, to apply for passport and resolve passport-related issues. Most of them, however, hate its quality of service.
While some complain about the ‘rude’ behavior of the staff, a few others object to the sale of passport covers on the office premises even before the passport process begins.
Disappointed by the passport center, Ilyas, from Udupi, complained that the staff behave rudely with applicants. “They are literally treating us like dogs," he said, objecting to the sale of passport covers in the office. "They are confusing people and selling passport covers even before the passport process begins.”
One such visitor was Vikas Torgal, who had accompanied his wife to apply for her passport. He was not let in and had to find a place in the dirty corridor, which was filled with bird droppings.
"Though this is an IT Park, it is very dirty and filled with bird droppings. At the passport office space, there are no seating arrangements for people accompanying the applicants. They must have a bigger place," he said.
Asma Fazal, another applicant, had arrived at the passport office all the way from Bengaluru. The biggest challenge for her was how to take care of her two-year-old child who was left to play in the mud near the office premises. "They should have built a play area for children here. It’s become so difficult for me to manage my child," she lamented.
She continued: “We reached here in the morning itself, and there are still two hours to go. After that, my appointment will come. They (security guards at the passport office) are not even allowing us to use the washroom.”
Similar complaints were raised by Andria and Syed, who had also come from Bengaluru. They said that even drinking water was not available.
Arun Patil, from Gulbarga, said that the passport office must put up a notice about the documents required for the passport application. Further, women applicants must be let in along with their companions.
Staff Not Intentionally Rude: Assistant Passport Officer
When contacted, Assistant Passport Officer Saseendran P said that on average 450 applicants walk in every day. Handling such a large number of applicants is quite difficult for the staff here. Sometimes, they may get angry, but they do not intend to behave rudely with applicants, he maintained.
"Neither buying passport cover is mandatory nor is anybody forcing the applicants. It’s completely up to the applicants to buy it ," the officer clarified and promised to consult officials in the ministry of external affairs about putting up an information chart.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
