Maran launches postal dept's 'One India One Rate' scheme

Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran today launched the postal department's "One India One Rate" concept for speed post, under which a minimum rate of Rs 25 would be charged for delivering a package, weighing not more than 50 gm, to any destination within the country.

The prevailing minimum rate of Rs 20 for speed post services within Chennai would, however, continue, he said speaking at the function here, which also marked the launch of celebrations to mark 20 years since the service started.

Earlier, the charges for a 50 gm packet was calculated according to the distance, he said.

Stating that the Centre proposed to have its own airline service for the benefit of the postal department, he said initially the service would be introduced in the North-East sector where, unfortunately, the department's performance was not up to the mark.

The department, he said, also proposed to introduce "next day delivery" for its speed post service in major cities and towns and for other places on the third day.

The annual revenue earned by the speed post service, with 1,200 centres in the country, was about Rs 400 crore, he said and added that the process of making postal services a multi-provider had already commenced by accepting, among other things, income tax returns and electricity bill payments.

Pointing out that the speed post service catered to 24 per cent of the courier market, Postal Services Chief General Manager for Business Management, Raghav Lal said the service was targeting business from the corporate sector.

Speaking on the occasion, he said special delivery and pick up arrangement and concessions on bulk mail were on offer for the corporate sector, keeping in mind the growing economic development taking place in the country.

He said Delhi and Chennai circles would soon receive ISO certifications. Postal Services Board Member (Operations and Marketing) Vatsala Raghu said speed post services today covered 168 cities in the country, besides 97 countries.

Referring to the postal department's passport service, she said the department proposed to open 875 new centres for the service in the country, in addition to the existing 275, which included 19 in Tamil Nadu.

Stating that the department's aim was to evolve logistic business, she said recently door-to-door pick up of letters by postmen delivering letters had also been introduced.

Tamil Nadu Information and Publicity Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi and State Labour Minister TM Anbarasan also spoke on the occasion.