Bengaluru border residents turn to Kolar and Tamil Nadu for faster passport access

With Bengaluru’s outskirts growing rapidly and traffic congestion worsening, more residents are applying for passports in nearby districts and states for convenience.

As traffic jams worsen and commuting distances grow, people living on Bengaluru’s outskirts are turning to a new solution, applying for passports in neighbouring districts and even nearby states. This unexpected trend is becoming common in areas such as North Bengaluru, Sarjapur, and Anekal.

According to officials from Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) offices in the city, residents from areas close to Kempegowda International Airport are now applying at post office passport centres in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and even in Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, those living beyond Hosa Road or Sarjapur find it easier to apply from Tamil Nadu.

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The same pattern is seen across state borders. People from North Karnataka and Mangaluru are choosing to apply in Kerala or Andhra Pradesh, while residents from Kerala prefer applying in Mangaluru due to proximity and shorter travel time.

To handle this rising demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been organizing mobile passport camps in border areas. These mobile vans help collect and process large batches of applications closer to applicants’ homes. A similar camp was held in Yelahanka last year to ease crowding at existing PSKs.

This trend gained momentum after the ‘Apply Anywhere in India’ service was launched in 2018. The initiative allows any Indian citizen to apply for a passport from any PSK or Post Office PSK across the country, regardless of their place of residence. Applicants simply need to submit valid address, identity, and date of birth proof, which are verified at their registered address.

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The feature, originally introduced to help India’s mobile workforce, is now widely used by people living in border regions for ease and accessibility. Renewal applications, which occur every 5-10 years, have also become simpler under this system, particularly for students and professionals who frequently move cities.

With five PSKs and 23 POPSKs operating across Karnataka, the number of applications has seen a steady 10% annual rise, reflecting both urban expansion and growing awareness of flexible passport services.