Andhra Pradesh

Post offices can regain past glory

About two decades ago, there were Railway Mail Service (RMS) coaches in mail and express trains like Godavari Express. A letter posted or money order booked before 12 noon in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle and other places was delivered or paid the next morning at the places like Rajahmundry, Eluru, Vijayawada and Hyderabad. This was possible as the letters and MOs were sorted, bundled and mail bags closed and sealed in the running trains.

Mail bags were closed for every post office en route and handed over to the waiting mail peons at every railway station. The mail peons were taking the bags to the post office for opening of the bags and delivering letters and paying MOs. After this procedure was cancelled, letters and MOs began to be delayed and at this stage, the courier system entered. The postal officers did not expect the courier system would eat into vitals of their department.

Under the present Indian Post Office Act, the department has monopoly rights for carrying letters and delivering them and so I think no amendment is necessary. On the reverse of the courier receipt, one can see a note that the cover is accepted on the presumption it does not contain any letter. The Postal Department can raid the courier service offices with or without police help. Or they can have a protection force on the lines of RPF. If this is done, all the lakhs of letters now being carried by the couriers will again enter post boxes and post offices can regain their past glory.

A.V.G. Krishna

Visakhapatnam

It is gratifying to note that the completion of the decade-old gauge conversion project of the 90-km Naupada-Gunupur narrow gauge branch line is in sight at last. The work was grounded in June 2004 with a budgetary allocation of Rs.100 crores, after lapsing two budgetary provisions of Rs.54 crores in 1998 and another Rs.10 crores later. Considering the latest tender notice in January, it is doubtful the project would be completed in the near future and without cost escalation of another Rs.100 crores.

P. Simhachalam

Pathapatnam (Srikakulam district)

The service road on National Highway No. 5 at Natayyapalem/Akkireddipalem area is always fully packed with parking of heavy vehicles, trailors, tankers, etc., perhaps relating to the closely-located BHPV and other transport agencies, leaving no space for other vehicles to pass.

Similar is the case with respect to many other service roads in the area. Indiscriminate parking of heavy vehicles here and there on public roads and highways will lead to accidents and post a threat to public safety. It is said that the corporation is looking for land to set up a Truck Terminal. I request the authorities concerned to set up the terminal immediately for the convenience of the general public.

T.V. Nageswara Rao

Visakhapatnam

The Indian Railways are looting the public while issuing reservation tickets. When you approach the reservation counters between Kakinada and Vijayawada railway stations for obtaining a reservation ticket by train No: 7210 Kakinada-Bangalore Seshadri Express to Tirupathi railway station, you always get a stock reply ‘no accommodation please’.

However, the reservation clerk is ready to issue a reserved ticket either to Kuppam or Bangalore, a distance of about 250 km. to 450 km. away from Tirupathi. I request the railway authorities to look into the matter and take corrective action.

V.S.R. Murthy

Peddapuram (EG district)

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