To tackle a mounting pile of 24,000 pending passport files, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Kolkata will hold a series of special ‘Passport Adalats’ on 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 and 29 January 2026 . Each session can process up to 800 applicants, with appointments segmented into five time-slots to prevent overcrowding.
Applicants must bring original documents and stamped appointment letters; walk-in and telephone enquiries will be suspended on Adalat days to free staff for on-site scrutiny. The initiative mirrors similar drives in Mumbai and Bengaluru last quarter, part of the MEA’s broader Passport Seva 2.0 overhaul that aims to cut routine issuance time to five working days by March 2026.
Employers relocating staff abroad have welcomed the move. Several IT companies in Sector V reported onboarding delays last year because new hires waited up to 10 weeks for passports. The Adalats give them a one-time opportunity to rectify document discrepancies without restarting the application cycle.
![Kolkata Passport Office schedules six ‘Passport Adalats’ in January to clear 2025 backlog]()
For applicants looking beyond passport issuance to the next step—securing visas—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets travelers from India check country-specific visa rules, upload documents securely and track applications in real time, all without multiple trips to consulates. This end-to-end support can save both individuals and HR departments valuable time as international travel plans take shape.
Travel consultants note that backlogs surged after a record 20 % jump in outbound leisure travel from eastern India in 2025, coupled with staffing shortages at RPOs. Authorities say they will evaluate the Adalat model for permanent monthly adoption if the January sprint meets targets.
Applicants are advised to monitor the official Passport India portal for slot availability and arrive no more than 15 minutes before their scheduled window to avoid security bottlenecks.
Applicants must bring original documents and stamped appointment letters; walk-in and telephone enquiries will be suspended on Adalat days to free staff for on-site scrutiny. The initiative mirrors similar drives in Mumbai and Bengaluru last quarter, part of the MEA’s broader Passport Seva 2.0 overhaul that aims to cut routine issuance time to five working days by March 2026.
Employers relocating staff abroad have welcomed the move. Several IT companies in Sector V reported onboarding delays last year because new hires waited up to 10 weeks for passports. The Adalats give them a one-time opportunity to rectify document discrepancies without restarting the application cycle.
For applicants looking beyond passport issuance to the next step—securing visas—VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets travelers from India check country-specific visa rules, upload documents securely and track applications in real time, all without multiple trips to consulates. This end-to-end support can save both individuals and HR departments valuable time as international travel plans take shape.
Travel consultants note that backlogs surged after a record 20 % jump in outbound leisure travel from eastern India in 2025, coupled with staffing shortages at RPOs. Authorities say they will evaluate the Adalat model for permanent monthly adoption if the January sprint meets targets.
Applicants are advised to monitor the official Passport India portal for slot availability and arrive no more than 15 minutes before their scheduled window to avoid security bottlenecks.
