Citing a CAG report, postal department says that unlike private couriers, Speed Post is legally bound by the provision of Post Office Act to provide best service.
New Delhi: Citing a report by the central auditor, the postal department has made a strong pitch to the defence ministry to do away with using private courier companies, insisting that its ‘Speed Post’ facility makes “good business sense”.
The unusual letter comes weeks after the government decided to do away with Army Postal Units in peace locations as part of a larger plan to cut non-operational flab in the military. And the communiqué by A.N. Nanda, secretary of the department of posts, cites the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as a reference point
“In a test check conducted by the CAG in order to compare the performance/quality of Speed Post service of department of posts with private courier agencies for delivery of mails, it was found that the delivery through Speed Post is better than private courier,” says the letter, referring to an audit report.
In the letter to defence secretary Sanjay Mitra, the postal department has mentioned that unlike private couriers, the government postal system is “legally bound by the provision” of the Post Office Act to see that “best care is bestowed on mails”.
“It makes good business sense to use Speed Post instead of private couriers which are not regulated by any rules or norms unlike department of posts, which is legally bound by the provisions of the Indian Post Office Act 1898 to see that the best care is bestowed on mails,” the letter reads.
The postal department has asked the defence ministry to direct all departments, public sector units and organisations reporting to it to use Speed Post and has assured “cooperation, advice” and customised packages for special requirements. It calls Speed Post unmatched in terms of network and being customer friendly.
Listing the benefits of using the government postal system, the letter says that it has “attractive discounts for high volume customers, free pick up, internet-based tracking, cash on delivery facility and a centralised billing system”.
Incidentally, the central point of the letter comes from a CAG report on communications and the IT sector, dated 2015 when former defence secretary Shashikant Sharma was heading the government auditor.
Speaking for myself I find registered post is delivered faster than speedpost. This may surprise some, but it’s true. Again efficiency is region based, not uniform. Generally, postal services are efficient. But sometimes it is terrible. I suppose the systems are pretty good; infrastructure is poor though
I sent a speed post a/d end Nov 2017. Yet to get the Acknowledgement Card. Today is 23Dec.
This letter has itself lost it’s credibility by delivery after a week almost.
You are one of the reason.
Very poor coverage and service in New localities like Gurgaon.
My passport delivery did not take place even after 9 days of despatch, I had to literally hunt for the Passport and fight to take delivery.
Tracking showed that the Passport was shuttling between the Sorting House and the Post Office.
This was after the Passport got ready in only 6 days’ time.
Postal delivery and clearance is even worse.
Department of Post is now wanting to focus on Banking!
Speed post is better than private courier. Private courier not service in zupadpatti area or if they service if you are out of town one day they return article and not responsible for return.all people know about post office but in zupadpatti area some people don’t know courier office. I see many cases in pan card delivery service by speed post &private courier .India post &Speed post is the best than private courier.
speed post is really good. i always prefer it.it took only 3 days for the parcel to come from chennai to meerut (up). Also speed post charges are so nominal if u compare it with courier agencies.Price for my consignment was Rs 350 by blue dart for article weighing just 20 grams and it was something around rs 35 to 40 by speed post. i can say only bluedart or dhl can perform better in delivery speed than speedpost but then they come at 10 times expensive.
I have been using Speed Post services since its inception and the services are remarkably superb. The Speed Post tracking system and SMS updates are excellent. I used Speed Post services in different states of India and even in remote villages. All my letters, documents and parcels were handled with care and delivered promptly. I have no complaints or any negative feedback till date. Hats off to India Post and its Speed Post services.
It seems to be unusual for a top bureaucrat like secretary, Department of Posts to don the role of a promoter of postal services. This only proves to show that all is not well with the India Posts as private players have already seized a lion’s share of postal dept’s revenue offering many concessions to regular bulk booking. Speed Post is still at snail’s pace as it lacks ‘speed’ in reaching out to public. It may be noted that A N Nanda, secretary , department of posts , who was Post Master General, Western region based in Coimbatore few years ago showed no interest in improving the services in western Tamil Nadu comprising the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Nilgiris. He is well aware of the fact that India Post has no other way but to depend on government department or ministry to keep the postal services going. Instead of improving the services, the dept is turning towards marketing of other products at post offices. Nanda ji, think differently and come out with innovative ideas to improve postal services.–M RAFI AHMED, Senior Journo, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Speed post is safe and secure but some of the workers in India post are irresponsible, I sent one parcel to Nepal on 24th of this month from bangalore, but while tracking still it is showing as parcel is in origin place of receipt, not yet updated, if i ask regarding our parcel in the office they are giving irresponsible answers. Its too bad.
Why don’t you write about the move of Army in which they have deprived the army personnel from the benefits of Postal Life Insurance and Small Savings Schemes of Postal Department, while they are downsizing the APS. Not only entire Army is going to suffer by this move but the officers and jawans who are holding postal life insurance policy are going to suffer as they are being asked to make the alternate arrangements and close their accounts and life insurance. Mail of the army is another service which is going to be badly affected by this move, losing security of the location of the army unit will be the biggest concern but it seems no one in the army is worried. DoP has strongly objected for this and the Secretary has also written to the MoD that why DoP was not consulted while they took the decision. More than 12 lakh PLI policies of jaw and and officers are with APS and closing it abruptly without thinking of the repercussions is a matter of big concern for the men in the army as their financial planning has been badly affected. The move should be independently examined by the CAG for finding out of the gains or the losses Army is going to incur, vested interest in this whole exercise should also be examined by the professional journalists who have good understanding of defence matters.
Lots of lost item or mail at India Post… Private courier are far way better and safe……..!
My lots of pan card without reason return by private courier & Not answered properly by their offices. After I requested to sent by speed post my all customers get their pan card in some days. So My opinion for trible area post is the best. Easy tracking system and message system.
Sir in speed post the chances of temper with packet is high and no one is responsible for temper and they use weigh and send but no check for temper case and so it is unsafe.