Vadodara: Chaos ensued at the Nizampura passport office in Vadodara when around 500 people found the office closed on Friday, April 14th, despite having been allotted appointments for passport issue and renewal. The confusion arose as the date fell on a public holiday, celebrating Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's birth anniversary.
After applying for a passport online, individuals receive a designated slot, date, and time for their appointment. However, appointments were scheduled for April 14th, even though it was a public holiday. This led to a significant crowd gathering at the passport office, with many people coming from outside areas.
The situation intensified as people's anger boiled over upon finding the office closed. Many stated that they had received confirmation messages for their appointments for three days before receiving a cancellation message late on Thursday night. Some people did not see the cancellation message and were left frustrated by the lack of communication.
The question remains as to why appointments were scheduled on a public holiday, and people were left without clear answers or assistance from the passport office. Many now face the prospect of waiting an additional month for their rescheduled appointments, while they argue that a new appointment should be provided within two or three days.
Some individuals, like a family from Disa, 250 kilometers away, had incurred additional expenses by traveling and staying overnight in Vadodara, only to find the passport office closed. The Fateganj police were called to the scene to calm the agitated crowd.
