Rationalization of Mail Hubs under MPOP: Downgrading 20 NSHs to ICHs – India Dept of Posts

30-37/2025-D

Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts

Mail Operations Division

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Mary, New Delhi-110001

Date: 29.10.2025

To,

All CPMsG

Sub: Rationalization of Mail Processing Hubs under Mail and Parcel Optimization Project (MPOP)

This has reference to the O.M. no. 39-04/2025-PD dated 14.07.2025, along which proposed network of Mail and Parcel was communicated and Circles were requested to offer their comments on proposed network by 21.07.2025

The comments received from the Circles in respect of Mail processing hubs were analyzed and also discussed during the meeting held with the DPS level officers on 15.10.2025.

The Inbound and Outbound Mail profile of NSHs and ICHs across the country is again analyzed after the meeting held with the DPS level officers on 15.10.2025 and it has been decided to downgraded the 20 NSHs into ICHs (detailed in Annexure-A). The decision on downgrading of remaining NSHs and merger of ICHs will be analyzed and decided in consultation with the Circles in next phase.

Rationale behind optimization of Mail Processing hubs is as follows:

A. Downgrading of National Sorting Hubs (NSHs)

• ~85% of Speed Post Mail is being given by the bulk customers
• 58 bulk booking Centres are booking 60-70% of Mail, these hubs are having the direct bagging facility to close bags to all NSHs across the country. These Bulk booking centre will continue to send direct bags after downgrading of NSH to ICH
• 80-90% mail is originating from 10-12 major cities across the country. NSHs located in these cities will be allowed to close bags to the downgraded NSHs.
• Moreover, in case of articles, if, booked more than a prescribed threshold, downgraded NSHs across the country will be allowed to closed direct bags to these downgraded ICHs and vice-versa. The threshold limit shall be intimated separately.
• Parent NSH of these downgraded ICH shall be decided in consultation with the Circles.

The model example for reference is as under:

(i) Tirunelveli

• Outbound bound Mail Profile of NSH Tirunelveli
• 61% of total mail is booked and delivered among the mapped post offices
• 30% of total mail is delivered in other hubs within the Circle
• Only 9% of mail is delivered in the NSHs of other Circles.
• Inbound Mail Profile of NSH Tirunelveli
• 54% of mail is from hubs within the circle
• 46% of mail is from hubs of the other circles out of which 42% of mail comes from 10 cities which will be allowed to closed direct bags to ICH Tirunelveli (downgraded NSH)

(ii) Barauni

• Outbound Mail Profile of NSH Barauni
• 68% of total mail is booked and delivered among the mapped post offices
• 19% of total mail is delivered in other hubs within the Circle
• Only 13% of mail is delivered in the NSHs of other Circles.
• Inbound Mail Profile of NSH Barauni
• 9% of mail is from hubs within the circle
• 91% of mail is from hubs of the other circles out of which 85% of mail comes from 9 cities which will be allowed to closed direct bags to ICH Barauni (downgraded NSH)
• It reveals from the above example that the NSHs which are proposed to be downgraded to ICHs are processing major chunk of Inward mail instead of both Inward and Outward mail. This inward mail can be processed at downgraded NSHs.
• It may be ensured that no staff should be displaced while downgrading the status of NSH to ICH

This down gradation of NSHs will come in force from 15th15th November 2025 after further discussion with the Circles on 30.10.2025.

(Dushyant Mudgal)

DDG (Mail Operations)

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Annexure - A

List of NSH proposed to be downgraded to ICH Under MPOP

 

Sr No	Circle Name	NSH to be downgraded as ICH	Mapped NSH
1	Andhra Pradesh	Kurnool
2	Assam	Dibrugarh
3	Bihar	Barauni
4	Chhattisgarh	Bilaspur
5	Gujarat	Vadodara
6	Jammu and Kashmir	Leh
7	Jharkhand	Jamshedpur
8	Karnataka	Arsikere
9	Kerala	Thrissur
10	Madhya Pradesh	Jabalpur
11	Maharashtra	Chatarpati Shambhaji Nagar
12	North East	Aizwal
13	Odisha	Rourkela
14	Punjab	Amritsar
15	Rajasthan	Ajmer
16	Tamil Nadu	Tirunelveli
17	Telangana	Warangal
18	Uttar Pradesh	Saharanpur
19	Uttarakhand	Rudrapur
20	West Bengal	Burdwan

to be decided in consultation with the concerned circle