Indian GPO takes over suburban post offices
As a part of the postal services extension scheme, post offices in the suburbs of Kolkata are being brought under the jurisdiction of the General Post Office (GPO) service. In the first phase, a number of post offices in North and South 24-Parganas have been allotted Kolkata pin codes.
According to sources in GPO, there were 99 post office areas in the city served by the head post office. Under the new plan, southern suburbs like Narendrapur (Kolkata-103) and Joka (Kolkata-104) have started receiving the service of Town Delivery .
The postal department is hopeful that the new move will inject a fresh lease of life to the most defunct postal services. In the new plan, the services to the added areas will be faster and hassle-free.
At present the delivery system to the suburbs is complicated and time-consuming. For instance, the letter first reach Sealdah postal centre by Railway Mail Service. There, the letters are sorted out and placed in different bags for different destinations. Then the bags are sent to respective post offices, followed by door-to-door delivery, explained Harpreet Singh, assistant post master general.
In the new system, the letter will be brought to GPO and Town Delivery will ensure prompt distribution.
The GPO at present has enough staff strength. So the service to the post offices will not be a burden, said director of postal service.
