Chennai, July 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The inauguration of a new Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) at Kolathur on Thursday turned into more than a routine government event, drawing political attention after Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya attended the Union government function amid continuing speculation over her recent absence from several programmes organised by the ruling TVK-led Tamil Nadu government.
The passport service centre was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan, who said the new facility would make passport-related services more accessible to residents of North Chennai.
The POPSK has been established at the Kolathur Post Office as part of the Centre's initiative to expand citizen services through the postal network.
Addressing the gathering, Murugan said the Union government was focused on ensuring that public services reached people at the grassroots in a timely and efficient manner. He noted that post offices had evolved beyond their traditional role and now function as integrated public service centres offering banking, insurance, Aadhaar enrolment, and several other citizen-centric services under one roof.
Highlighting the Centre's welfare initiatives, the Minister said the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system had transformed the delivery of government benefits by transferring financial assistance directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring greater transparency.
He added that more than 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts had been opened across the country over the past 12 years, significantly expanding financial inclusion.
Murugan also said India had emerged as a global leader in digital and cashless transactions, while the repeal of more than 1,500 obsolete laws had helped improve the ease of living and simplified governance. As part of the inaugural ceremony, he handed over the first passport issued by the new POPSK to the parents of a six-month-old infant.
Among those present at the event were North Chennai MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Kolathur MLA V.S. Babu, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Isha Srivastava, Chief Postmaster General Mariamma Thomas, and Regional Passport Officer R. Vijayakumar.
However, it was Mayor Priya's presence that generated considerable political interest. In recent weeks, she has remained absent from several state government programmes in Chennai, including events attended by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, despite reportedly being invited. She had also skipped another official function in Perambur.
Against this backdrop, her participation in Thursday's Union government programme has triggered fresh discussion in political circles, with observers closely watching the significance of her public appearances amid evolving political developments in the state.
Source: IANS
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