T'puram: Mail and parcels from the state to other parts of the country, including metro cities, may get delayed or disrupted as
India Post has downgraded the Thiruvananthapuram parcel hub. It has proposed to downgrade similar hubs in Thrissur and Kozhikode and close facilities in Kannur and Thiruvalla.
This means, parcels and documents sent from these cities to other states may not go directly but via Kochi or Coimbatore. The move is part of the optimisation of mail and parcels but is being done by ignoring the state's requests and operational requirements.
Thiruvananthapuram parcel hub was downgraded from L1 to L2 despite being the state capital and a major operational hub. The suggestion to establish parcel hubs at already existing RMS offices in Tirur, Thodupuzha and Alappuzha has not been considered.
Sources said that these decisions, taken against the recommendations of the Kerala circle administration, are also likely to reduce service efficiency and inconvenience the public and e-commerce partners.
Thiruvananthapuram parcel hub was crucial because it used to handle high-value and time-sensitive consignments from central and state institutions. The hub processed around 7,000 parcels daily.
"Its proximity to Vizhinjam international seaport and Thiruvananthapuram airport ensures multimodal connectivity. Downgrading this hub contradicts the mail or parcel optimisation objective of building a future-ready, regionally balanced logistics network."
Kozhikode parcel hub caters to Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Mahe — a region with a population exceeding one crore and handling nearly three lakh parcels per month.
Downgrading Kozhikode to L2 and mapping it to Coimbatore L1 would lead to interstate dependency, delivery delays and contradict the operational autonomy principle envisaged in the optimisation, said an official.
Kannur parcel hub is being downgraded, though it handles about 6,000 parcels daily, covering Kannur, Kasaragod and parts of Wayanad. Parcel volumes doubled in the last three years. There will be at least a day's delay in deliveries in northern Kerala.
Thiruvalla, which serves 121 post offices across Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts, if merged, would result in several offices — such as Chittar, Kalanjoor, Pathanapuram, Piravanthoor, Thannithode, Koodal and Seethathode — falling over 70km away from Kottayam, making timely collection and dispatch of parcels practically unviable.
With only one L1 hub (Kochi) proposed for entire Kerala, the state's postal logistics network faces centralisation at a location that suffers from space constraints and is likely to compromise competitiveness against private operators, he added.
The postal unions staged a protest against these moves in the city. All India RMS and MMS Employees Union MG & MTS Kerala Circle has submitted a petition to A A Rahim MP, demanding a fresh operational feasibility study based on current parcel volumes, regional accessibility and future growth trends.
V Ayyappan is a senior assistant editor with expertise in writing...
Read MoreV Ayyappan is a senior assistant editor with expertise in writing on diverse subjects. With a focus on railways, tourism, and ports, he has authored extensive articles over the last 25 years, showcasing in-depth knowledge and insight. Ayyappan also explores art, culture, and social history through his articles, highlighting the richness and complexity of these fields.
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