Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Many Indian people waited outside the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai on Thursday. This happened because new outsourced centres for passports and documents were delayed. So the missions had to start taking passport and document applications in person
It has been 17 years since applicants had to go to the missions to submit passport applications. India started outsourcing services in the UAE in 2009.
The embassy and consulate opened counters on a first-come, first-served basis from 9am to 12.30pm on July 2. This was after BLS International. SGIVS Global* stopped their services at the end of June.
The new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) run by Alhind Tours and Travels LLC were supposed to start on July 1.. There was a delay because of a legal issue in India.
The delay happened because two companies that did not get the contract asked the Delhi High Court to look into how the contract was awarded. The case then went to the Supreme Court of India, which said that things should stay the same while the High Court looks into it.
Since the legal case is still going on Alhind cannot start operating. So embassy and consulate staff are handling passport, attestation and other services for now.
Many officials and community volunteers helped manage the crowds and process applications on the first day.
Applicants also paid Indias passport fees, which started on July 1. A standard passport renewal now costs Dh450 up from Dh285. This is the big fee change in over 10 years.
The fee increase has worried community groups for low-income workers who make up a big part of the UAEs 4.5 million Indian community. Some volunteers asked the government to consider lower rates for holders of Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) passports.
Indian missions told applicants to watch for updates, on the new consular centres and when normal services will start again.
