Government has announced 149 new Post Office Passport Kendras in the second phase. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today announced the launch of the new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras which will take the total number of such Kendras to 235 in the country. 52 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras are functional presently. Centre is also planning to open passport centres within a radius of 50 kilometres. <br/><br/>The External Affairs Ministry and the Department of Posts had taken the decision to utilize the Head Post Offices for delivery of passport related services to the citizens of the country. The objective is to extend passport related services on a larger scale and to ensure wider area coverage. Since coming to power, the NDA government has also opened 16 Passport Seva Kendras, with a priority given to northeastern states.