The Hindu Business Line : Bill soon to regularise private courier service

COIMBATORE: A bill to regularise private courier services would be introduced in the coming session of Parliament, the Union Telecommunications and IT minister, Mr A Raja said on Monday. Since there was no provision to find legal remedy at present in cas e of any dispute with private couriers, which have no accountability, the bill would take care and protect the customers, Mr Raja told reporters at Mettupalayam, about 40 km from here.

The Post Office Act Amendment Bill prevents private couriers from carrying letter or parcel below 150 gram and also seeks to limit foreign direct investment in the sector. Mr Raja, who dedicated the modernised Head Post office under the 'Project Arrow,' to the nation, said the ministry has allocated Rs 500 crore to modernise various services of India Post and post offices in a phased manner. He said nearly 70 post offices in Tamil Nadu circle have been covered under the project. Though railways and post al departments were meant to serve the common man without any profit motive, the railways was making good profit, whereas the postal department was incurring Rs 600 crore loss annually, he said.

To make the department financially self-sufficient, it was decided to construct commercial complexes in the land owned by post offices and rent it out, Mr Raja said. - PTI

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