Surat, Aug 16: Inaugurating Gujarat's second full-fledged passport office here, Union External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today observed that, "infrastructure facilities like airport, passport office or foreign post office were the demand of the hour". This is 30th passport office in the country, Sinha said and commended the progress of the textile city.

He also agreed to look into the long-pending demand for a full-fledged airport in the economic nerve of the country.

The office would entertain applications for new passports from six districts of south Gujarat including Bharuch, Narmada, Valsad and Dangs, Union Rural Development Minister Kashiram Rana, said. The regional passport office at Ahmedabad, will continue to cater to the needs of districts of Central and North Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutchh and Diu.

Rana further said "this was the new dimension for such flourishing region which waited since long to have the full-fledged passport office".

Gujarat water supply minister Narottam Patel and MPs Savita Sharda and Mansinh Patel and city mayor Snehlata Chauhan were among others who were present.

Bureau Report