India Post launches eMO services in Punjab

Chandigarh, Oct 9: On the occasion of 'World Post Day'today, India Post launched its much-awaited electronic money order (eMO) services at all its 22 head post offices in the Chandigarh-Punjab circle.

Through this facility, MOs can be sent electronically at the rates of normal money order. The service will be available in all head post offices across the country.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Prithvi Raj Kumar, Chief Postmaster General, Punjab and UT Chandigarh said 231 post offices in the circle have been fully computerised and provided internet connectivity and e-payment service along with other web-based services.

Twenty-two head post offices and 64 sub post offices in the circle provide iMO (Instant Money Order) service to 796 stations in the country. The amounts up to Rs 50,000 can be sent, through iMO he said, adding that under the service, money can be transmitted within minutes.

In the General Post Office at Chandigarh, token and digital display system have also provided to reduce the queues at the savings counters where people have to wait for their transactions he said.

Saving bank operations have been computerised in 203 post offices in Punjab and Chandigarh, Mr Kumar said. The Circle has taken adequate steps for the promotion and marketing of various premium services like, speed post, business post and retail post.

He said sale and purchase of foreign exchange have been started in collaboration with HDFC bank in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar Head Post Offices.

Distribution of RBI coins has been started in Chandigarh GPO and the post offices in Sector 22, Sector 19, Sector 47, Mohali and Kharar.

Processing of loan/applications/deposits, on behalf of SBI, has been started in four Rural Post Offices and 38 branch Post Offices of Ropar District in Punjab, he said.
Referring to other facilities being extended by the department, Mr Kumar said for the expeditious disposal and delivery of corporate and bulk mail and to provide total mailing solutions to bulk mailers, ''Mail Business Centres'' have been established at Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Mail Business Centres at Chandigarh provides mechanised pick up and delivery service to all bulk mailers at doorsteps, he added.

'Mobile Busines Offices' have also been established in the main cities of Punjab, which provide both traditional as well as premium services to people at convenient locations, Mr Kumar said.

The Chief Postmaster General further said a proposal has been mooted by the government to identify India Post properties, where commercial activities could be started. Such properties have been identified so far in Chandigarh and Mohali, he added.

On the occasion, Mr Kumar also launched the National Postal Week celebrations here. As part of the celebrations, India Post will organise 'Savings Ban Day' tomorrow, Mail Day on October 11, Philately Day on October 13, Business Development Day on October 14 and PLI Day on the last day of the celebrations, that is October 15.

UNI