From a total of 22 counters, only 13 are open, and since there’s not enough room in the hall, many are forced to wait for their turn in front of the building, regardless of the weather.
Authorities promised earlier the “tin-can” will have 22 operational counters, which would solve the problem of congestion, and that the so-called “ticketing” system would be installed, so that citizens would wait for their number to be called out and avoid people jumping in their line. Authorities also promised to set up about 70 seats in the waiting hall which would house the machine.
“Citizens will be able to monitor when it is their turn to submit the application and which counter is open to receive them, by looking at displays”, the Ministry of Interior said at the occasion.
Journalists of Dnevne Novine went to the scene and witnessed people waiting their turn in a line that stretched outside of the building.
Among them, a student from China, Zhong Zi, told Dnevne Novine he too is confused with the situation, stressing similar procedures are much faster in his country.
“I heard of people waiting for three hours, and I myself have been waiting for an hour and a half already. In China, it all goes much faster. I don’t know what needs change here; maybe the number of people working at the counters”, said Zi.
Another citizen agrees with Zi and proposes avoiding chaos by introducing priority counters.
“I haven’t been waiting for that long. I took my ticket some 20 minutes ago, but I see a big crowd of people inside. I think they should introduce priority counter for mothers with children, people with disabilities and the elderly. This would greatly speed up the process”, Ana Ivanovic explained her proposal.
However, a mother present with her child, Melisa Uković, does not complain about the holdup because, as she said for DN, she took her number and she can go for a walk.
“Yes it’s crowded but I don’t mind waiting with my child. He is restless, but we took the number and now we can go out for a little bit and take a walk”, Uković said.
In the meantime, Ministry of Interior says there’s no cause for alarm because the problem of overcrowding and large queues will soon be resolved: there are plans to increase the number of counters and they already opened a call to hire five additional workers.
Ministry also explained that, out of the existing 11 counters for issuing identity cards, driving licenses, passports and various certificates, currently only six counters are operation because two workers took maternity leave and one is using her holiday.
