India Post to 'air-connect' four metros

Guwahati, Oct 12 (UNI) The India Post is eyeing Air India aircraft on wet lease to make its mail delivery system faster and decrease the dependence on railways and private airlines.

Informing this at a press meet here today, Post Master General, of Dibrugarh (Assam circle), Vasumitra said the Postal department would try to acquire more aircraft on wet lease from Air India as soon as it was made available.

He informed that India Post would soon introduce Air Cargo Service covering all the four metros as well as set up hubs and sub-hubs to speed up the delivery system within the current Plan period, subject to availability of aircraft on lease. Money for the purpose has already been set aside, he added.

The 'air-connected metros' will be further connected to regional hubs through a fast road mail service to speed up the cargo and document delivery system.

Mr Vasumitra said the overwhelming success of its first air cargo service connecting NE with Kolkata by an aircraft on wet lease from Air India, launched on August 29, has encouraged the Postal department to think of 'flying high'. India Post will be flying another cargo aircraft to the hilly NE region as soon as it can get hold of an aircraft, he added.

As on date, the freighter aircraft operates on all days, except Mondays in Kolkata-Guwahati-Imphal-Agartala-Kolkata route. The rate is very competitive.

Meanwhile, Mr Vasumitra also informed that the postal department has moved the Union Finance Ministry to allow its Postal Life Insurance schemes, which is now open to employees of government, semi-government, PSUs and some autonomous government undertakings, to be thrown open to all, subject to setting up of a proper infrastructure to handle the work load.

UNI