'aadhaar seva kendras' to ensure ease in aadhaar-related services: uidai ceo

New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) The planned 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras', conceptualised on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras, will offer "hassle-free" enrolment and update facility

to ensure ease in Aadhaar-related services to residents, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said on Tuesday. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is planning to set up Aadhaar

Seva Kendras, in a mega project that involves opening of facilitation centres for enrolment and update services in 53 cities and towns across India. In the first official confirmation about

the mega project in the offing, Pandey said: "With Aadhaar Seva Kendras, we are building hassle-free and resident-friendly enrolment and update facility infrastructure to ensure ease in

Aadhaar related services to residents". Almost 114 such Kendra (or centres) in 53 cities and towns including all state capitals will be established in the first phase, Pandey said in a

statement. These Kendras will be in addition to enrolment and updation centres that currently operate in banks, post offices and government premises, he added. Meanwhile, UIDAI sources said

that these kendras will be supervised directly by the authority's own employees. The Kendras would also provide appointment-based Aadhaar enrolment and update services to resident

through multiple stations working simultaneously, with a few counters dedicated to walk-in customers. The facility to book prior appointment will ensure that residents seeking services, do

not have to wait in queue. Aadhaar Seva Kendras will also serve the special needs of individuals who need to be allowed enrolment and update through exception process. Citing an example, the

UIDAI source said that exception facility would be available at these ASKs for those who wish to update their name or Date of Birth more than once. UIDAI sources said that the authority had

decided to shift Aadhaar enrolment and update centres to banks, post offices and state government premises (under direct supervision of government or bank officials) in the wake of Supreme

Court decision last year. The phasing out or closing of enrolment centres at private premises and setting enrolment centres in banks, post offices, and now the Aadhaar Seva Kendras directly

under UIDAI supervision are steps in this direction, the source added. The Aadhaar Seva Kendras, on the model of Passport Seva Kendras, will be run and supervised by UIDAI officials

stationed full time at each Kendra, the source added.