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Sankar Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram , Aug. 20

THINK of a situation in which the postman not only delvers mail, but also starts collecting mail from your home or office. Very soon, this scenario could be a reality for people living in Kerala if a pilot project currently being developed by the Kerala Postal Circle works out.

Under the initiative, which is first likely to be tested in a few post offices in Thiruvananthapuram, employees of the Department of Posts (DoP) will collect mail from the customer's premises and transport it to the post office for onward distribution. The DoP does not plan to charge extra for this service, but will offer it only to customers who can guarantee a specified, minimum number of mail articles every day, says Ms K.N.K. Karthiayani, Chief Post Master General, Kerala Circle, India Post. This facility is targeted at institutions such as Government offices, banks, corporates and other such establishments that send out a large volume of mail every day, she adds.

While the details of the scheme are still being worked out, she says the department expects to be able to start the pilot project in Thiruvananthapuram by October 1 to coincide with the 150th anniversary celebrations of India Post. The decision to launch such a pick-up service for regular mail is part of the effort to promote the `traditional' services of the post office, Ms Karthiayani explains. Customers who sign-on for this initiative are also likely to receive special treatment from the postal department, she adds.

Meanwhile, the department has already launched a similar free pick-up service for articles booked under its `speed-post' offering. This facility is currently available in major towns across the country.

More Stories on : Supply Chain Management | Strategy | Kerala

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