What are the total estimated costs of replacing the faulty passports?

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Total Estimated Costs of Replacing Faulty Passports Cannot Be Determined From Available Information

The precise total estimated costs for replacing the faulty passports cannot be calculated based on the provided information. While it is stated that 26,000 passports were issued with validity exceeding 10 years, leading to the need for free replacements, the specific cost per passport, including the booklet, microchip, and administrative overhead, is not detailed. Without these per-unit cost figures, a comprehensive financial assessment of the total replacement expense is not possible.
Identification of Affected Passports

Approximately 38,000 passports with a 10-year validity were issued by the Immigration Department. Of these, a significant portion, specifically 26,000, carried validity extending beyond the standard ten-year period. This occurred due to the practice of transferring unused validity from old passports to the new ones.
Reasons for Replacement

The necessity for replacing these passports arose because certain airline systems abroad do not recognise passport validity beyond a 10-year limit. This technical incompatibility meant that travellers holding these extended-validity passports faced issues during check-in procedures with specific airlines. The Immigration Department has since ceased this practice and is now offering affected passport holders complimentary replacements to rectify the situation.
Financial Implications for Taxpayers

The blunder is described as inflicting real financial losses on the country, with taxpayers bearing the burden of paying twice for the affected passport booklets, microchips, and associated administrative overhead. This situation necessitates that innocent citizens must take time off work and visit immigration counters to resolve a mistake that was not of their making.
Call for Audit and Accountability

There is a call for an immediate independent audit to determine who proposed, tested, and approved this policy. The Home Ministry is urged to disclose the full cost incurred by replacing these 26,000 affected passports and to hold accountable any individuals found to be negligent or demonstrating serious incompetence in the matter.

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What are the total estimated costs of replacing the faulty passports?

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