Courier companies fear losses

The Centre is planning to permit transit of postage below 300 gm in weight only through India Posts.

Courier companies feel this is a `protectionist move’ that will hit their interests Business houses, small traders, are not happy with the Government’s move.

Urgent commercial documents like waybills for consignments, copies of bank payments made and even college admission or examination applications are sent by courier when time is crucial. From 1980s onwards “just courier it” became a new verb in business communications.

Now, the courier companies fear heavy loss of business and are strongly opposing the Union Government’s reported move to permit transit of postage below 300 gm in weight only through India Posts. In the email age, other forms of communication by hard copy are called “snail mail.

The courier companies feel this is a “protectionist move” that will hit their interests while helping to revive sagging business of the Postal Department.

While Speed Post is comparable in efficiency and speed to private courier services, the covers have in most cases are handed over across post office counters. Only large business houses enjoy the facility of Speed Post in bulk being picked up and on a restricted scale.

According to the agents from some nationwide private courier services, there are close to 350 sub- agents spread across Bangalore, who receive covers and packages and then forward them to the courier agents.

Most are two-person outfits, relying on small covers of less than 300 gm in contents.

In fact, for some courier companies that smaller covers and packages form around 80 to 85 per cent of their business by volume.

Courier companies here say that the executive committee of the Federation of Indian Couriers Association is due to meet soon in Delhi to assess the impact of the new regulations and plan action to oppose it.

The Union Government is planning to bring an amendment Bill to modify the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, virtually giving a monopoly to the Postal Department for covers weighing up to 300 gm.

Business houses, including small traders, are none too happy with the proposed change. Most depend on courier services to forward and receive documents about the despatch and arrival of goods from suppliers or to customers.