The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Net'-powered postman in new look!

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Friday, Sep 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Net'-powered postman in new look!

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 23. For many, the Internet might have made the Indian Postal Service look like an outdated network trapped in the bricks and mortar of a dying mail service. But the world's largest postal network is in for a facelift, by harnessing the powerful technology tools offered by the Internet itself, apart from a variety of value-added services.

Set to celebrate its 150th anniversary on October 1, 2004, the postal service, which even underwent a change of name to become India Post, will no longer be the same, says the Andhra Pradesh Chief Post Master-General (CPMG), T.S. Govindarajan.

The most important element of the network, the postman, starting with a change in uniform, from the dull and drab khaki to a much pleasant blue, is becoming much more than a mere purveyor of letters, postcards, parcels and telegrams.

He might still be pedalling a rickety cycle over dusty village tracks, but the contents of his tattered bag now include electronic world-wide payment facilities in association with Western Union, mutual fund products from various domestic financial institutions, pre-paid cards -- to which value can be added -- accepted at any location where MasterCard is taken, apart from pension products, insurance products and travellers' checks, to name a few.

Winds of change

The winds of change had started pitch-forking the postman into the cyber world two years ago, when the power of Internet and the reach of India Post was combined to shape the e-Post, a project which Mr. Govindarajan said would do away with the delay generally associated with the Indian species of snail mail. The project involves physical deliverance of electronic messages sent through Internet at the doorstep within a few hours.

"Personal mails have seen a slight decline in volume, but that is being made up for by the increase in business mails," the CPMG says. The Business Post centres established in major cities in Andhra Pradesh, through which about 3.7 crore pieces of business mail were posted in 2002-2003, fetching a revenue of Rs. 20 crores, saw a jump in traffic, to five crore pieces and a revenue of Rs. 30.5 crores in 2003-04.

The increase in revenue through the Speed Post substantiates the transformation claim. The A.P. Circle's earnings from the Speed Post grew to Rs. 24 crores in 2003-04 from Rs. 16 crores in 2001-02.

Service upgradation

The A.P. Postal Circle, formed in 1960, covering entire Andhra Pradesh and Yanam of Pondicherry, is second only to Uttar Pradesh in terms of network. "From 9,300 post offices in 1960, we now have 16,202 post offices, 14,866 of them in rural areas," Mr. Govindarajan says. "We are increasingly adopting new businesses that help optimize our retailing strength, by providing a range of public utilities and new financial services. The traditional services are also being upgraded through induction of technology, making India Post faster, more reliable and more responsive," he says.

The Sesquicentennial Anniversary celebrations commencing October 1 will be a year-long affair with seminars, symposia, debates, and exhibitions, issue of commemorative stamps, TV and radio programmes, souvenirs and essay/painting/quiz competitions. The occasion will be used to create a strong corporate image, the CPMG adds.

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