Postal Deptt starts evening home delivery of parcels

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 1: Srinagar today became the first city of the country where the evening home delivery facility of parcels was started by the Department of Posts here and facility will be started in Jammu next week.
The facility was launched by Chief Postmaster General, Jammu and Kashmir Circle, John Samuel by flagging off a van carrying parcels for recipients living in different parts of the city.
Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Samuel said that parcels received by the Post Offices in the Srinagar city would be delivered on the same day to the people. He exuded confidence that the service would revolutionize the postal services in the State more so Kashmir valley.
“From today we are starting the evening home delivery facility of the parcels. The parcels received during the working hours of the day would be delivered to the people on the same day by 8 PM. There would be no backlog and it would be ensured that the parcels reach the people on the same day,” said Samuel.
“We have observed that during the day when the parcels are delivered most of the people are not present at their home. With the start of this service it would be ensured that parcels are delivered to the people on time. Srinagar becomes the first city in the country where such facility has been started and it is a great achievement,” said Samuel.
He said that the service of evening delivery of parcels would be extended to the other parts of the State in the near future. He said parcel booking centres would be set up at GPO Srinagar and Post Offices of Lal Chowk, Karan Nagar, Sanat Nagar and Rainawari.
“Jammu would be second city where this service would be started. This service would be started in Jammu in this month only. We are starting on an experimental basis with Srinagar and the service would be extended to other places as well,” said Samuel.
He said that parcels booked for Srinagar at the Post Offices of district headquarters of Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam and Bandipora would be delivered to the recipients on the same day provided they reach the designated Post Offices by 5 PM. He said the service of evening home delivery of parcels is a hit in advanced countries like Singapore.
Samuel said that the Postal Department has witnessed unprecedented rise in the receipt of the parcels. He said the department used to receive 4-5 tonnes of parcel per day during the last year while as this has gone to 12-15 tonnes at present. He added the department has also started home collection of parcels primarily for the businessmen.
“As the season of festivals is on the Department of Posts has decided to give seven percent discount on the gold coins while as the discount would be eight percent for the defence personnel. The discount would be available upto December 31 this year. GPO Srinagar and Jawahar Nagar Post Office would remain open on Sunday (November 11) so that people purchase gold coins on the auspicious occasion of Dhan-teras,” said Samuel.