Floating postal services at the Sangam

Young girls who riding on rickshaw as they protecting themselves from dust as the work of roads widening under way in the city due to Maha Kumbh Mela ,in Allahabad on Sept. 01, 2012. Photo: Brijesh Jaiswal

To ensure that visitors to the Maha Kumbh Mela 2012-13 can enjoy communication services even during the event, the postal department is planning to set up extensive floating post offices at the Sangam.

According to the Allahabad postal department, floating postal services would be set up in each of the 14 sectors of the Mela area during the 55-day event.

The department will also seek to provide boats for directly receiving letters from visitors and dispatching them to respective destinations.

The services provided by the department would include money order, registry, parcel, speed post, philately, saving accounts and postal insurance.

Ram Narain, Senior Superintendent Allahabad Division Head Post Office, said they were hopeful of setting up postal services in each of the 14 sectors of the Kumbh area.

However, Mr. Narain added, the plan to set up the services in all the sectors was in an initial stage as the affirmation of land allotment by the Kumbh Mela authority was still awaited.

The department would also appoint a gazetted Kumbh Mela Officer for the plan.

The postal department usually sets up postal services in the annual Magh Melas held at the Sangam, but they are limited in services.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years and is expected to attract an estimated 100 million visitors this time.