Amid complaints of inconvenience to people due to virtual closure of Regional Passport Office in Delhi, Government on Monday said the Passport Seva Kendra at ITO is expected to be operational by January next year.

The Herald House office will be the third and the largest PSK being set up to supplement the front-end work of Regional Passport Office (RPO).

Two PSKs -- Shalimar Place, Delhi and Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon -- have been functioning since August 30 this year.

The PSKs are being set up as part of the Passport Seva Project (PSP) to provide better passport facilities to residents of National Capital Region (NCR).

With a view to provide better passport facilities to residents of NCR till the time the normal functions of RPO are suspended, the External Affairs Ministry said the Delhi residents can apply for passports at the PSK at Pacific Business Park, Sahibabad Industrial Area, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad.

"In addition to the PSKs, 3 District Passport Centres (DPCs), namely at Asaf Ali Road, Shakarpur and Nehru Place are also continuing to function," said a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry.

It also announced the revised procedures for applying for passports under various categories.

Applications (fresh or with expired passports) under normal category to be submitted at any of the PSKs and DPCs.

Reissue cases with valid passport to be submitted at any of the 3 PSKs. DPCs do not accept such applications.

Delhi residents can apply at RPO, Delhi as well as PSKs at Shalimar Place and Kaushambi under Tatkal category. Tatkal applications at RPO, Delhi are being accepted on walk-in basis from applicants of Delhi.

Under Tatkal category, Haryana residents can apply at PSK Shalimar Place and PSK Gurgaon.