The Passport Seva Kendra,which would function in collaboration with the Tata Consultancy Services,will start functioning in Madurai from June30, according to a senior official.

The kendra was being established as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the External Affairs Ministry and the TCS. While Chennai would have three Kendras, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Thanjavur would have one each.

The applications of six districts including Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga would be processed at Kochadai in Madurai.  Applicants of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin could use one at Tirunelveli, Passport officer (Madurai zone)Jose K.Mathew told reporters last evening.

The applicants can log on to the Kendra website and fill in the application forms online. A large size screen informed the status of the applications. The TCS authorities would process the papers.

The Process included photographing and fingerprint reading with modern gadgets. Since the Photographs would be taken at the kendra, the applicants need not carry any photographs.

It would not take more than a month from the acceptance of the applications for issuing passport, sources said, adding, the kendra would work from 9:30 to 5PM.