Mumbai: US Consulate, passport office install 70 benches in BKC

The US Consulate General in Mumbai in collaboration with the Indian Regional Passport Office has installed 70 benches in the Bandra Kurla Complex BKC area reported news agency PTIThe benches made from recycled materials are part of a significant initiative to improve the consular experience for visa applicants the US Consulate said in a statement reported PTIUS Consul General Mike Hankey along with the chief of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA and other prominent stakeholders inaugurated the benches during a ceremony held on MondayHankey said the benches are not just logistical upgrades but a commitment to supporting the thousands of visa applicants and their families reported PTIThis project represents more than just an elevation of facilities Its a collaboration that reflects our commitment to improving the visa application process while aligning with the US Missions goals of urban waste management and sustainability he said reported PTIThe US Consulate and the Indian Regional Passport Office process thousands of applications daily in BKCVisa applicants and their families often wait outside the facilities until their appointment times The installation of these 70 benches is designed to enhance comfort and improve the overall experience for applicants while benefiting neighbouring businesses and institutions the statement said reported PTIAlongside the benches 50 waste receptacles will also be installed with future phases including additional benches and restroom facilities on Avenue 1 it saidHankey said the upcycled benches are part of the efforts to facilitate Indian applicants timely travel to the US which is the backbone of the peopletopeople ties that underpin the USIndia relationship reported PTIThe benches are created by Project Mumbai from recycled plastic waste at no cost and feature unique artwork by underprivileged artists from the cityWorlds most powerful passports list released Singapore ranks first India on 82nd spotUKbased Henley Passport Index has released the list of most powerful passports in the world According to the July 2024 rankings Singapore occupies the top spot with its citizens having visafree entry to 195 countries It dethroned Japan from the first place which is now at the second place along with Spain France Germany and Italy The passports of all five countries allow visafree access to 192 destinationsIndia has been ranked at 82nd spot on the global passport index allowing Indians visafree entry to 58 countries including popular destinations like Indonesia Malaysia and ThailandThe Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries ordinary passports for their citizens The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association IATAWith inputs from PTI and IANS