In line with its ambitious plan of setting up 114 'Aadhaar Seva Kendras' across the country by the end of the year, the UIDAI operationalised its first such centre in Delhi and Vijayawada.

The Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) will facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities related to the 12-digit unique identification number in addition to the existing centres that assist with the same services. These will, however, be owned and operated by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), the governmental body that issues Aadhaar.

An ASK will be similar to the concept of Passport Seva Kendras and will cover 53 cities at an estimated projected cost of Rs 300-400 crore, a PTI report said.

The report further said that the new centres are running on a pilot basis. The Delhi ASK is located at Akshardham metro station premises and holds the capacity to handle 1,000 enrolment/updation requests a day with 16 workstations. The centre will be operational for six days a week, remaining closed on Tuesday and public holidays.

The report also said that Vijayawada centre is half the size of the one in Delhi.

The ASKs are intended to handle large number of Aadhaar related requests on a daily basis like updation and enrolment. Just like Passport Seva Kendras, these centres will also allow people to book slots online through the appointment management system.