Comments on Delivery Centres Policy Guidelines

Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Mail Operations Division
Dak Bhavan, New Delhi-110 001

No: 16-01/2024-D
Dated: 26.06.2025

To
All Heads of Circle

Subject: Comments/Suggestions on Policy Guidelines/SOP for setting up of Delivery Centres (DC) for centralized delivery of all types of postal articles by Delivery staff.

This is regarding queries/suggestions received from Circles and Service Unions on "Policy Guidelines/SOP for setting up of Delivery Centres (DC) for centralized delivery of all types of postal articles by Delivery staff".

Clarification on suggestions/queries received on "Policy Guidelines/SOP for setting up of Delivery Centres (DC) for centralized delivery of all types of postal articles by Delivery staff" are attached for information of all concerned.

Encl. A/a

(Dushyant Mudgal)
DDG (Mail Operations)

Copy to:
i. CGM, Parcel Directorate – for information.
ii. All recognized service unions – for information.

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Consolidated Suggestions on Delivery Centres

Sl. No.	Query/Suggestion	Comments
1.	Delivery Centres should be established only in urban areas, covering 85% of daily mail volume, and that delivery to the remaining 15% (low volume POS/rural areas) continue through existing channels.	Entire purpose of setting up of Delivery Centre is to consolidate the delivery POS so that the unproductive low volume delivery POS can be merged in highly productive Delivery Centre. This will also help the Department in separating front end counter operations from the back end operations. However, delivery POS which are on the periphery of the cities or cannot be covered under Delivery Centre due to operational reasons, may not be covered under the Delivery Centres and may continue to work as delivery PO.
2.	BO Mails should be delivered through the Branch Post offices.	Around 35% DOP mails is being delivered through the Branch Post offices. Besides, Policy guidelines did not make it mandatory for the field units to cover the delivery of BO mail through the Delivery Centre. However, Circles needs to carefully examine the delivery jurisdiction of the proposed Delivery Centre by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis as well as overall operational efficiency.
3.	While calculating the number of delivery staff in a Delivery Centre, sufficient provision of staff for 2nd delivery, Sunday/Holiday delivery needs to be made. Besides, it should also consider absence of staff due to EL/CL/RH/Sunday, etc. Sorting Postman may also be provided for the sorting work in the Delivery Centre.	The workload of delivery staff (including Sunday/Holiday delivery) is basically dependent on two factors i.e. distance travelled & number of articles handled. Considering, the existing norms including ad-hoc norms for mechanized delivery, the number in Policy Guidelines was arrived at after considering number of articles both for ordinary & accountable to be delivered by a delivery staff as well as distance to be travelled. This number is indicative and may vary depending upon distance to be travelled & number of articles to be handled. Provision for Leave Reserve as per existing instructions, may be appropriately provided in the Delivery Centre while calculating the staff strength. Number of delivery staff required for second delivery may also be arrived at by considering articles handled and distance to be travelled by the delivery staff. As provided in the Guidelines, sorting work will be attended by each delivery staff and Sorting Postman will not be required.
4.	While calculating the number of delivery staff in a Delivery Centre, IPPB/Addhaar work performed by the delivery staff also needs to be considered. The IDC policy does not mention the role of Postmen in providing IPPB services, including AEPS transactions, which are a crucial part of their duties and should be clearly defined in the framework.	IPPB/Addhaar work are incentive based work which is not considered while calculating the sanctioned strength.
5.	Right now in any delivery post office the beat sorting is done by a senior sorting postman who knows the entire delivery area of a delivery post office. However in the new scenario if there are many delivery offices are combined into a IDC , than many more sorting postman would be required, each knowing the delivery jurisdiction of the beats inside each of the delivery pincode and multiple handing at the time of beat sorting would be required. Hence at most 4 offices should actually be prescribed under one IDC.	Number of delivery office to be merged into a Delivery Centre needs to be decided based upon operational efficiency including delivery area to be covered. Sorting complexity will be reduced by introducing preliminary sorting and then the secondary sorting. This pattern is also being followed in sorting of articles in Sorting Hubs.
6.	At present, a customer has to travel only 2 to3 km for collecting the articles which are kept in deposit at post office after the first attempt. However, in the changed scenario he has to travel upto 15 m and in most cases much more than before.	Department focus should be home delivery of all articles. If customer wants to avail window delivery, then he may come to the Delivery Centre to take the delivery of the article.
7.	Internationally UPU recognizes 2 type of mails i.e. one below 500 grams and other above 500 grams. It is proposed that we may also follow the same system i.e. below 500 grams to be considered as speed/registered article and above 500 gms as parcel. All articles below 500 grams articles (parcels, packets, speed, regd. and ordinary) may be delivered by postman (by two wheeler or foot) and all articles above 500 grams by 4 wheeler. Further, we may also formulate a policy to deliver consignments above 10 kg directly from the mails office (to avoid re-handling of heavy parcel).	Depth: also recognizes the same principle (>500gm) in recognizing the parcels in the systems subject to some exceptions if the packet contains a merchandise. Normally only heavy parcels are delivered through the 4-wheelers and light parcels are delivered through 2 wheelers. Delivery of heavy articles from Mails Offices may not be feasible as 4-wheelers beats will continue to operate from Delivery Centres. If Department performs delivery of heavy parcels fro Mail offices, then vehicles may need to cover long distances. However, in case of delivery of bulk customer, heavy parcels may be delivered from the Parcel Hub/Mail office.
8.	Vide letter No F.No 17-06/2024-PD Dated 25.10.2024, Parcel Directorate has issued a guidelines for adopting new technology and emerging technology (using prefabricated structure) for construction of operational buildings for mail and parcel . If that is to be included in the IDC, than detailed guidelines on the same needs to be issued.	Detailed guidelines will be issued in due course.
9.	A common compensation for GDS staff who will be made a part of IDC may be formulated and provide compensation to GDS staff at rates given to postmen for parcel delivery.	Fuel re-imbursement charges for usage of own 2-wheeler is also applicable to the GDS staff engaged in Deptt. Delivery POs.
10.	In case of Branch Post offices, addressee normally available in morning or evening due to field work. Implementation of IDCs may be considered in Phase II, as early morning and late evening deliveries are currently better managed at the local level. Rural areas may be exempted from IDC implementation, considering their unique delivery requirements. Alternatively, Sub Offices (SOs) with multiple Branch Offices (BOs) may continue with the existing setup, as it is functioning effectively.	Delivery in the rural areas can be made in day time also, as other family members are available at the house even during the day. Early morning and late evening deliveries can be performed as per operational requirement, mail volume, etc. but not mandatorily needs to be performed from Delivery Centre. Policy guidelines did not make it mandatory for the field units to cover the delivery of BO mail through the Delivery Centre. However, Circle needs to carefully examine the delivery jurisdiction of the proposed Delivery Centre by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis as well as overall operational efficiency.

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