In Bhayandar, mail moves at snail's pace

[karira]

As reported by Sabdhya Nair of TNN in timesofindia.indiatimes.com on 19 August 2008:
In Bhayandar, mail moves at snail's pace -Mumbai-Cities-The Times of India

In Bhayandar, mail moves at snail's pace

MUMBAI: If you are a resident of Mira-Bhayandar or Vasai-Virar, do not rely on the postal system, as even letters posted within the city take 10 days to a month to reach their respective destinations.

Despite the use of emails and mobile phones for communication, a large population in this belt depends on letters for government examinations and jobs, insurance policies and even RTI appeals. But residents complain that postmen literally make monthly visits to their homes and deliver letters in bulk.

"I received a letter regarding an RTI appeal much after the date of hearing. It was only after I got a stamp from the Mira Road post office that I was given another hearing,'' said Mira Road resident Rajesh Talreja.

When Talreja wrote to the chief postmaster-general (Maharashtra circle), asking for details of the number of days required for letters within the city to reach Mira Road, the reply was received 11 days after it was posted from the GPO. "When a letter from the highest postal authority reaches a place in the city after 11 days, what can we expect from ordinary mails?'' asked Talreja.

Bhayandar resident Prabhakar Patil would have missed his interview at a bank had he not personally gone to the post office. "I waited for a week for the letter. My father told me to go to the post office and there it was. Had I delayed it by even one more day, I would have missed my date,'' said Patil.

Though private companies and corporates rely on emails to inform candidates about interviews, government agencies still prefer sending letters.

Ashwin Parmar of Bhayandar has missed the payment of his insurance premium a number of times thanks to postal delays. "The insurance policies are despatched at least a month before the expiry of a premium date. But I got the letter almost 10 days after the last payment date at least twice,'' said Parmar.

If the parcels comprise books and literature, then the post offices do not even bother delivering them. "I visit the post office every month to collect study material. The post office has made it clear that it cannot drop the content at my mailing address. They say it is too bulky,'' said Nalasopara resident Deepali Rangnekar.

In most cases, letter boxes are fixed on the ground level and postmen do not have to go knocking on every door. Yet, the mails are bunched together, said a Mira Road resident.

Talreja-through an RTI plea-sought a reply on the time required for a letter to reach Mira Road from the GPO. The department told him that it normally took one day for a letter to make the trip and vice versa. But the reality is not the same in these places.



TIME CHECK

Mail Destination | Day of Delivery

Within city/town/district | 2 days from day of posting
Inter-metro /within state/inter-state capital | 3 days from day of posting
Inter-state | Within 3 to 5 days from day of posting
Speed Post | 1-3 days, depending on distance/destination
Express Post | 2-4 days, depending on the destination

[abhijeet]

Kolkata is a Metro City. But we received many hearing notices by ordinary post and within the city area , only after the hearing dates . I don't know why they are harassing this way; probably for wasting some time. In this connection it may be mentioned that the same Govt. Department sent one very important letter to our society with a wrong address. The Statesman reported this with a caption- 'Letter takes seven years to reach five kilometers.' But in this case , the purpose of the sender was only to help the corrupt persons. The concerned file was also missing, the concerned honest officer was also transferred etc. This is really a matter of rejoicing how the influential officers could do and what extent they are ready to go with their well planned dedicated misdeeds to help corruption.

[karira]

If the letter is in relation to any RTI matter, please preserve the envelope carefully and be careful while opening the envelope so that none of the Post Office stamps/dates are damaged or become illegible.

Very useful if you want to:

- Compare the Date of letter with Date of posting
- Date of posting v/s date of delivery
- Stated Date of posting v/s Actual date of posting, etc.

[abhi987]

This is exactly the reason why I prefer a private courier service vis a vis government postal service.

I always get the duly stamped acknowlegment back within three days of delivery.

I wonder if the govt postal delivery gives more authenticity to the RTI query as compared to the private courier service because I always get the acknowledgement properly stamped and signed by the PIO dept when I send it through the pvt courier service.

[abhijeet]

In one letter , SAPIO signed on 04/06/08. 57h June & 6th June , both days were "Bangla Bandh". 7th & 87h Saturday & Sunday respectively. So the letter was posted on 9th June and received at this end on 12th June, 08, where it was mentioned that the 1st appeal hearing was scheduled on 11th June, 08. Envelope was carefully preserved and it was informed to the SPIO on 27th June, 08.The next hearing date was scheduled on 25th June, 08 and the date of post was not at all visible , the letter reached on 16th July, 08. This time hearing date wads scheduled on 25th June, 08.
Envelopes were shown to the concerned SPIO. But how an applicant would chase for one application only for so many days. THe concerned department does not use their website for this RTI -related matter.
Last but not the least that this RTI application was submitted on 11.03.2008. No information furnished - so this 1st appeal. It is well known fact that our Hon'ble SIC is very much cooperative with Kolkatya based SPIOs and does not like to impose penalty at all in this regard. So wr are living in--- shib thakurer apon deshe where thse persons are always redy to harass the innocent and non influential persons and they are always ready to serve all the influential corrupt persons.We are keeping envelopes properly , but what puopose will be served as long as this system is carried out ?
Would you suggest something ?