The Department of Posts is planning to open three more parcel centres with packaging facilities in the city soon. One such facility was set up a week ago at the Triplicane sub-post office.
The parcel packaging centres already exist at many post offices, including those in T.Nagar, Adyar, Anna Road, Flower Bazaar, Ashok Nagar and Ambattur. The post offices in Guindy, Washermenpet and Avadi Camp are the three locations where the department is planning to open packaging centres.
Officials of the Department said the patronage for the parcel packaging centres was steadily increasing since the service offered were cost-effective compared to those of private courier companies. Postal staff members have been trained to handle parcels and package them in cartons of different sizes to hold items weighing from half a kg to 35 kg. “We have a tie-up with postal service operators in several countries through the Universal Postal Union. Customers could track the status of the consignment on the website,” said an official.
Unlike some private couriers, medicines and homemade eatables are also booked at the facilities run by the postal department, an official said. But, the staff members insist that the prescriptions and bills of the medicines must also be attached with the parcels.
The department has introduced vacuum packaging machines at the Triplicane post office to pack eatables in a leak-proof cover and wrap in aluminium foil. The packaging charges vary between Rs.30 and Rs.250 depending on the size of the parcel. The charges for domestic and international services also vary.
For instance, parcels to the U.S. weighing up to 250 grams are charged Rs.540 and Rs.150 is charged for every additional 250 grams. The parcels are door delivered within 3 to 5 days.
During 2010-11, the Chennai City Division earned revenue of nearly Rs.6 crore from the centres. Nearly 80 per cent of the parcels booked were to other countries. Of this, the Chennai City Central Division alone booked 45,000 parcels and earned revenue of Rs.3.50 crore, an official said.
