India Post poised for more web-driven services

02nd January 2012
India Post poised for more web-driven services

January 2 2012: IndiaPost, the world’s largest postal networks is slated to e-nable many of its operations and launch more web based services in the new year. The Department has undertaken a project to set up Automated Mail Processing Centres (AMPCs) in six major cities with a view to automate mail sorting. The letter sorting machines would be able to sort approximately 35000 articles per hour whereas the Mixed Mail Sorter would sort approximately 16000 articles per hour. The Mixed Mail sorting machines would help in faster processing of large size letters flats and packets/ parcels through the use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Automation in mail processing would also help the department in modernization of mail network, consolidation of sorting activities and expedite mail sorting and delivery in these cities.
The Department has undertaken and initiative to put in place a national address database management system with an objective to effectively manage the address database of public/ customers, update the addresses online, and help the customers in locating correct addresses and PIN codes. The project has been completed in two metro cities where address data up to street level has been collected and street directory prepared.
An e--Post office Portal was also commissioned during the current year for e-Commerce activity of the Department of Posts which provides for ‘on time sale of philatelic material.’ The portal will enable the customers to transact postal business any time and from anywhere using either debit card or credit card through the internet.
ePost, a hybrid mail service is presently available in 3998 Post offices. During the year 2011 (upto Nov, 2011), nearly 1 million of messages have been sent and Rs.8.1 million earned as e-post charges.

The Indian Department of Posts has the largest postal network in the world. It provides postal facilities within reach of every citizen in the country through its vast network at affordable prices. During the long journey from 1857 onward, India Post network has expanded from 23,344 post offices to 1,55,035 post offices as on 31.3.2008. Of these 1,39,173 Post Offices are in rural areas and 15,862 Post Offices in urban areas with an average post office serving 7,174 people and covering an area of approximately 21.2 sq. kms. www.indiapost.gov.in