How to apply a fresh passport?

Dear friends,

I am now going to write my experience of applying a fresh passport.
Well, below is the chronological order of steps to follow -

1. Create a username & password. Kindly click on the below link & first create user name & password. https://portal2.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/user/RegistrationBaseAction?request_locale=en
2. Then you need to fill the online form. There is an option to download the online form & then upload it. But in my case  it didn't work; I don't know for what reason. Hence, I filled in my information all online.Please fill the entire form in the block letter. While giving references, please give references of your neighbours. Neighbours might have to come to the police station once the passport is granted. 
3. Once, you fill in the form online next step is to take an appointment. Taking online appointment is very tricky. Appointment is given only between 2.58 pm to 3.00 pm. I mean that's how it works. Thus, make sure you are on the website in the given specific time. Close all the windows / tabs for better bandwidth. Moment you get a slot to select the appointment, immediately select it within two seconds. Otherwise, taking appointment will not be successful.Your actual work at passport office is about 2.5 - 3 hours only if you select the appointment time post 2.30 pm. Otherwise, it may take a good amount of 5 hours. Hence, do select the time accordingly. Now government has started 3 passport offices, lower parel, Malad & Andheri. So you have an option to choose the office which is convenient to your location. In case it is Andheri, then make sure you check the location as per the google maps & reach there before time.
4. Take a print out of the appointment letter. You will not be allowed an entry if that particular print out is missing. In order to enter the passport office, please carry your PAN or voter id or Adhar card. Then only you will be authorised to enter the office. 
5. Please carry all the documents & at least one set of xerox copy. Your school / college leaving certificate or birth certificate need to be carried as a proof of date of birth. If you are born after 1989, then birth certificate is mandatory. Otherwise only school / college leaving certificate will do the trick.
6. For address proof, please  do not show ration card. If you show ration card, then you need to support it with additional address proofs such as water bills, gas bills, electricity bills etc. Also, one such bill should be the recent one and the other should be one year ago. This is just to validate that you have been staying in that particular place for more than one year or so. What I did is showed a passbook of a nationalised bank. I xeroxed all the pages of the passbook containing entries from the beginning till recent one. If you are showing a passbook, make sure that it is updated. No other address proof is required in case you are taking your passbook. If you don't have passbook then you can show your online statements for the tenure of 1 year. But make sure that such statements are only valid if they are signed & sealed by the bank. Just the print out of the online statement is not valid.
7. Then you need to show your graduation proofs. Please take all the proofs such as SSC mark sheet & passing certificate, same with HSC & graduation.
8. You first need to show these documents and submit one xerox copy to the first counter where it is written enquiry. There will be two lines under enquiry. Please stand in the left most line (first) and submit all the xerox copies. Then your name will be called out & you will be issued a token number. Once, you are issued a token number, then you are asked to come in the main hall which further leads you to counter A, B & C. Once, your token number is displayed, then you will be asked to go to counter A. There your form will be validated and all the documents will be checked. Your finger prints will be taken & photo will also be taken. You will be asked to pay the charges which are Rs. 1500/-
9. Then you are required to go to the counter B where your documents will be again checked. 
10. Then counter C for the final check. Then you will be given a receipt which you should maintain till the end.

My intention to write this in very detailed manner is such information is not properly displayed on the website. Also, please note that don't try to get passport under Tatkal, if you perceive that fresh will take unreasonable time. For Tatkal, the documents required are much more.

I had applied for the passport on 5 April, I will keep this thread updated when I receive the passport!

Cheers!!

Nachiket

My maiden BRM (202 Kms.)

Cycling & me

In India, cycling is mostly associated with school going children or blue collar workers.
I however, got into cycling after I completed my post graduation & started doing a desk job.

I started cycling on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa (4 April 2011). It was a great fun & I did many amazing rides with my friends. Those rides were fun rides as well as endurance rides.

In Diwali of 2011,  I went on cycling vacation. I discovered the scenic beauty of Kokan with the help of my cycle. On 18 November 2011 I did Mumbai - Pune cycling on my Schwinn. Some accidents also added lot of value. I had accidents on 1 August 2011, 1 January 2012 & 19 May, 2012. But there was a great learning with those accidents. I am very fortunate that I had them!

I later came to know about BRM & thought I will also participate one day. But I was not comfortable to ride in rains. In fact it was a mental block. On 6th August, 2012 I came to know that BRM 200 is scheduled on 12th August. I was in double mind whether to attempt or not. I was out of practice since last 2 months. But still I was confident that 200 will be a cake walk for me. I was only worried about monsoon.

Suddenly a decision was taken - let's do it. I came back from work on 7th August & then repaired my bike. Went to domestic airport for a ride around 9 pm. Decided to practise for at least 3-4 days before BRM. I had decided to do Powai - Sion - Vile Parle loop on 8th August. But on 7th night only my front wheel got punctured. I guess there was more air filled in the front wheel. So I couldn't practise on 8th. Also till 11th August I didn't get time to practise.

But still I was confident that 200 is going to be a cake walk for me. I am an educated person. I must do smart work. Not hard work. So I had designed all my strategies accordingly.

Finally the day came! I got up at 2.20 AM in the morning. Did some breathing exercises. Since, I am asthmatic since birth, took inhalers in the morning to be on a safer side.But I didn't carry that with me. It was limited space which I had. I had taken 7 nutritional, cash, my hand phone, 4 electoral satches, ONLY ONE sipper, spare tube & glares.

Started my BRM at 5.34 AM from National Park after completing all the formalities. After few minutes I saw Pullu. He was removing a puncture near Kashimira flyover. I prayed to myself that let Rajesh remove the puncture soon. Also prayed that no punctures for me today. Continued..

Passed Fountain. Then it was a very straight road. Started at good pace. It started raining. and the experience was just awesome. I regretted that why I had this mental block in my mind about monsoon. It was so much ease to ride in rains. I enjoyed it to fullest.

I passed Sativali. Then gradually my hands started becoming numb. Before 5 Kms. I saw Hotel DECENT. I decided to stop there for 10-15 minutes. I had chai & one Rs. 10/- packet of Parle G. Filled up my sipper with fresh water. Had electrol as well. And continued.

The weather was just awesome so it was a fun and enjoyment. Later I saw Asherigad peak on the way. Somewhere after Palghar. In 2009 I had done a monsoon hike there so the area was familiar to me. This gave me some Deja Wu moments. I stopped had a nutribar & then continue.

My bike had some problem as it was not properly oiled. When I shift the gear on lower chain ring then it easily doesn't move on the upper chain ring. I knew this. So decided that last few Kms. from  Vasai I will do on lower chain ring. But till then I am not going to shift on lower chain ring. Hence, I was compelled to do all the climbs on upper chain ring!! But that was a part of strategy & hence no regrets.

I continued. Saw many riders over taking me. Sunil, Kailas Patil, Sherezad, Prabuddha & some riders over took me post Charoti toll. I thought it would be hardly any distance from Charoti toll naka. But in realty it was more. Also, I had observed that post Manor there were lots of climbs. I was smiling while doing them as I knew these are going to be descends for my return journey. Around 10.30 AM I reached ARAM Hotel.

I had Idali & coffee with Kailas, Prabuddha, Sherezad & Sunil. I left immediately post that. I guess others left 10-15 minutes later than me. I left around 11.50 AM.

Return journey was nice as well. I stopped near Manor once. Then near Vasai. And several times in between. I don't have much physical power. I knew that I should eat continuously. And that's what I did.

Post Vasai, I put my bike on lower chain ring & then road some Kms. I knew that I am going to complete it. But I don't wanted to test myself with no practice at all. So some climbs I walked with my bike. I even stopped at flyover just before Borivali national park. I saw Dhairyash over taking me. And also I saw Mahesh Nambiar who was coming under the flyover. But I was bit tired at that time. So took it very easy. Finally I completed BRM 200. Signed on the sheet.

And my maiden BRM 200 in my first attempt only because of my strategic planning & execution :)

Guys do comment if you feel worth..

- Cyclivist Nachiket Marathe 

MNP:- An option to change from worst to worst

Dear all,

Most significant development of the month of January was implementing Mobile Network Portability (MNP).
 Where one has an option of changing the telecommunication service provider without changing the existing number. I think it was a need of time. But will the benefit actually go to consumer?

There are ample reasons for switching from one service provider to others. And most common reason is flaw in the billing system. But do you think, a particular service provider has really got a good brand image which customers trust? The switching cost was Rs. 19 when MNP was implemented. Now within few days only it has reached Rs. 25

The government and service providers are working hand in hand and customer is always taken for granted. Thus, I think MNP has not given much to customers. Only difference is one can retain your number. But, if the customer is expecting  better facilities, then that expectation is questionable. I am planning to change vodafone who only want to create attractive Ads. and slogans like "happy to help". But they never implement what they promise.

Also if you are planning to switch from your existing service providers to other, then the customer service executive do ask for which brand you are going to switch. I would like to urge all the switchers not to disclose the brand you are switching to. It's very important information for the service providers. There are lots of studies going on in their respective departments to find out which service provider the switcher is opting for. Don't give this information to them. It's very important and never give it free to those cheaters.

What's your take on MNP dear customers??

Award Programmes

Hello all, 

We have lots of channels in our country. Every channel has award programme. Many celebrities come in that programme along with people who are paid to come there. 

Again those celebrities perform some dances and stuff like that. Many people believe that such performances are not intellectual. Do you think that such award programmes would make decline in the average intelligent Quotient of our countrymen?? Or do you think that their performances are appreciable by everyone in the society??

Do have your say.

Should good career in marketing start necessarily from Sales

Hello friends,

It's often said that sales is the basic function of marketing. Do you think that you should start your career from sales function is you want to grow in the field of marketing?

Do have your say. Irrelevent posts will be deleted.

Regards,

Nachiket Marathe,
Mumbai, India.

"I don't advise fools as they don't follow it; I don't advise genius as they don't need it"

Indian Budget 2010

Hello friends.

What are your views on the Budget presented by UPA government?
What are the pros and cons of the budget?
Do you think salaried people have really got a relief?

Feel free to write your opinions.

Should one go for Government Jobs?

Dear Friends,

We all know that there is recessation going on all over the globe.
Private Sector is not remained lucrative any more.
Do you think the emploment pattern will change with grduates and post-graduates opting for Goverment as an employer?

Do have your say.