The extract of news published in The Hindu is reproduced below.
Residents of Valasaravakkam are apprehensive about soon having to travel an additional three km to avail themselves of postal services, as the post office there is facing closure. The postal department has been closing down small post offices for the past one year as part of economy measures. The Valasaravakkam post office is used by residents of localities such as Porur, Alapakkam and Ramapuram.
V. Ganesan, vice president of West Kamakoti Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said many senior citizens also make use of the services of the post office located on Arcot Road. The nearest post office is in Alwar Thirunagar, three kms away.
The post office functioning in rented premises has been asked to be vacated. The services availed at the computerised office include booking of speed posts and money orders and savings account.
Sources from National Federation of Postal Employees said nearly 30 small post offices manned by a single or two postal staff are being closed down or merged over the past one year. Some of the offices that were recently closed include those in Indira Nagar, Rangarajapuram, Nanganallur South, Choolai, Kalmandapam and Perambur High Road. Officials of Postal department said small post offices located within a distance of 2 km are being merged as it is not economically viable. “We are unable to bring computerisation in small offices as investment is higher than the business generated,” said an official. Moreover, there has been an increase in the building rentals. There are about 200 post offices in the city. The small post offices are replaced with franchisees depending on patronage, the official said.
News » Cities » Chennai
CHENNAI, October 4, 2010
