Union Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and MSMEs, Shobha Karandlaje, has urged the External Affairs Ministry to establish a third Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) in Bengaluru to ease congestion. In a letter addressed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, she proposed setting up a new PSK in northwestern Bengaluru. Shobha, who represents Bangalore North in Parliament, pointed out that the existing PSKs in Lalbagh and Marathahalli are routinely overcrowded and face long lines, creating significant inconvenience for residents, especially those from northern parts of the city.
She noted that the centres handle new passport issuances, renewals, and related services but are operating beyond capacity.
Separately, Shobha Karandlaje also appealed to Karnataka PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi to reconsider the recent toll hike on NICE Road. She described the increased charges, effective July 1, as “arbitrary” and burdensome for all vehicle users.
According to her, the toll revision will likely push up BMTC bus fares on key routes such as Banashankari, Taverekere, and Electronics City, further impacting commuters. She criticized NICE Road for lacking essential safety measures despite collecting high tolls, citing inadequate road markings, absence of reflector tiles in accident zones, poor signage, and no CCTV coverage.