In a major disruption to passport services across India, the Passport Seva Portal suffered a nationwide outage, leading to the cancellation of thousands of appointments without prior intimation. Frustrated applicants took to social media to express their anger over the sudden technical failure that left several Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) non-functional.
The outage, reportedly caused by a critical server malfunction, paralysed passport operations in key cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal, leaving applicants stranded outside closed service centres. Many were shocked to find notices pasted on PSK gates stating “technical issue – services suspended”—with no SMS, email, or official alert beforehand.
No Rescheduling, No Slots Available
Applicants who attempted to reschedule their appointments online faced another setback as available slots were scarce, some showing availability only after several weeks or months—disrupting urgent travel plans.
“No one informed us—no message, no call, nothing. I travelled all the way to the PSK only to see a locked gate,” posted an applicant from Ghaziabad on X (formerly Twitter).
Public Uproar Over Poor Communication
The lack of transparency from authorities sparked public outrage online. Many users criticised the system for failing to alert them in advance, wasting time, money, and causing distress to those with visa deadlines and travel emergencies.
While officials confirmed the server issue, no official statement on the expected resolution timeline or alternative arrangements has been issued yet.