Expressing concern over the delay in the launch of Passport Seva Project, a Parliament Panel has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to start it at the earliest. The Standing Committee on External Affairs said it took serious note of inordinate delay and repeated postponement of the launching of the pilot phase of Passport Seva project. The Project aims to issue passports in three days as against the current period of 45 days. The panel also said that the e-passport service should be extended to general category in a phased manner. <br/> <br/>The contract for implementing the 1,000-crore rupees project was given to TCS in October 2008 with an implementation time-line beginning in June 2009. The Passport Seva Project, based on a public-private partnership model, aims to provide passport-related services to citizens in a speedy, convenient and transparent manner.<br/>