Postal services to go hi-tech for speedy delivery

• Union Minister Killi Kruparani lays foundation for PO building in Kukatpally
• 218 sites identified for more departmental buildings
• Instant Money Orders between POs in alliance with BSNL

Hyderabad: The postal department, which is already overburdened with social services like channelising various government schemes, is all set to get into public-private-partnership (PPP) mode and have its own buildings for delivering efficient services. Addressing the press after laying foundation for a department building in 500 sq yd area in Kukatpally, here on Sunday, Minister for State Communication and IT Killi Kruparani said that of the 2,438 post offices in the AP Circle, only 306 POs were located in the department buildings. "For better performance, the Centre has identified over 218 sites in the State where modern POs will be set up. The work under the Project Arrow is set to start in six months," she said. She said that apprehensions of late mail delivery would be a thing of past, as most POs would be equipped with automated mailing machines, which deliver 1,000 letters in an hour. All letters, including registered, speed post, ordinary mail and parcels would now be delivered on the same day, she said. Dr Kruparani revealed that money transactions would become simpler and faster between POs through instant Money Orders. "In alliance with BSNL, instant money order scheme would be introduced in October in AP," she announced.

Automated MailingA center near RGIA The Minister also announced that an automated mail processing centre (AMC) will be coming up near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.A Chief Postmaster-General of AP Circle Karuna Pillai, who retired on Sunday, said that AMC would be set up at a cost of Rs 60 crore and once operational it would deliver over 20,000 parcels and 30,000 mails per hour. The State would witness a sea of change in the delivery process, he said. The State government has allotted 3.5 acres near Pedda Golconda, Shamshabad for the AMC.

'MY Stamp' Programme The department also launched an innovative product 'My Stamp' programme enabling a person to have his photograph alongside the selected postage stamp. Andhra Pradesh would be the third circle in the country to implement this programme. "Twelve stamps of own choice with personal photographs alongside would be provided to the customer at a cost of Rs 350 within 10 minutes at the Post Office," Karuna Pillai said. Earlier, Lok Satta Party chief and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan praised the Minister for meeting the long-felt desire of local residents to have a Post Office.