Mobile alert: You've got mail & more

Jamshedpur: After introducing the core system integrator, Bistupur GPO in Jamshedpur has launched an automated messaging system to send mobile alerts to receivers as soon as a parcel or speed post reaches the head post office.

Senior postmaster R.L. Singh said they had begun the new customer-friendly initiative since Monday.

"A mobile alert is sent from the post office to the addressee as soon as a parcel or a speed post reaches us. If the addressee wants to collect the parcel/speed post, he/she can do so or else the postman does the delivery," he said.

Singh maintained that introducing the messaging service ensured prompt delivery. "Sometimes a postman fails to locate the address and in such a case, the mailed item is returned to us. The new system will go a long way in avoiding failed delivery," he said.

A postman was almost assaulted in Mango last week because he failed to locate an address and deliver a PAN card. The mail was returned to the post office. When the receiver came to collect the PAN card from the post office, he tried to assault the postman.

Officials said apart from Bistupur GPO, the automated messaging system would be introduced at all the 43-odd sub-post offices in the steel city that fall under the postal department's Singhbhum division. The Golmuri and Agrico post offices will roll out the service from June 18.

The Singhbhum division of India Post caters to a population of over 10 lakh.

Last week, the Bistupur GPO and all the 73 sub-post offices in the Kolhan region rolled out the core system integrator (CSI), which is aimed at reducing paperwork and improving speed and accuracy.

India Post has awarded the CSI project to TCS and Infosys. Under the system all online transactions will be linked to a central server in Bangalore.