Proposal to raise (Indian) postal tariffs by 25-50%

Finance minister Yashwant Sinha on Thursday proposed to raise postal tariffs by 25-50 per cent, including the cost of envelopes, post cards and inland letter cards.

As per the Budget proposals, the printed post card price has been doubled to Rs 6, while the price of inland letter cards has been increased to Rs 2.50 from Rs 2.

The cost of envelopes has been increased to Rs 5 from Rs 4, while the cost of competition postcards has been doubled to Rs 10.

Parcel rates have been increased to Rs 19 for the first 500 gm from the existing Rs 16 and to Rs 16 for additional 500 gm or part thereof as against the existing Rs 15.

The proposed increase for the book pattern and sample packets in the book post category has been increased by Re 1 to Rs 4 for the first 50 gm, but has been reduced by Re 1 to Rs 3 for additional 50 gm.

Periodicals costing up to Rs 20 would need postage of Rs 2 for 100 gm, while those costing between Rs 21 and Rs 50 would be charged Rs 4 for first 100 gm and Rs 5 for additional 100 gm.

For periodicals costing Rs 51 and above, Rs 8 for first 100 gm and Rs 9 for additional 100 gm would have to be paid.

Printed books of up to Rs 50 in value would be charged Re 1 for every 100 gm. The tariff for printed books of value between Rs 51 and Rs 250 would be Rs 2 for every 100 gm, while that for books of Rs 251 and above value would be Rs 8 for every 100 gm.
Times of India