External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said 77 passport sewa kendras (help centre) will be opened across the country to ease issuance of the key travel document. In his reply to the Demand for Grants for Ministry of External Affairs in the Lok Sabha, Krishna said pilot passport sewa kendras have started functioning in seven cities across the country, including Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli and Chandigarh.

The software and other logistical needs have been tested thoroughly at these locations, from where 1,000 passports have already been issued.

The remaining 70 such centres will be established soon, he said.