Project Arrow hits its mark,city post offices to don a new look

‘Project Arrow’ aims to transform the existing India Post infrastructure at an estimated investment of Rs 900 crore across the country.

The project aims at revitalising the organisation,capitalising on its strengths and recognising and dealing with the weak areas of the department by sustained,sincere and honest team effort.

According to Sushil Kumar,office assistant,head post office,Ludhiana,who maintains a record of the project in the city,“To start with,three post offices were selected — the head post office at Bharat Nagar Chowk,Model Town post office and the central post office at Bhadaur House. The exterior and interior of the post offices will get a makeover under the project. There are various other activities that will be introduced. All this information has been provided to us through a ‘Blue book’,which is a rulebook guiding us on how to do a particular activity and in what time. Some work like beautification of the post offices has been completed by repainting the building structure. Other activities are going on simultaneously.”

He further said: “We have already sent a Citizen’s Charter for approval to the Circle office in Chandigarh. This contains all the details and information regarding different schemes and works of the postal department and the time period in which it will be completed. This will also include information about PIN codes,tariffs and various services offered by the department including postal life insurance,Western Union money transfers,small saving schemes,Speed Post information and parcel delivery information among other services. After we get the nod,boards carrying all this information will be installed near the counters of the three post offices.” 

When quizzed about how much time it will take for residents to avail the benefits of the revamped services,Senior Superintendent,Post offices,Ludhiana,V K Raizada,said,“It may take 3 to 4 months to completely implement the project.” 

The makeover will also bring in refreshing changes in the working of the post offices and a system of evaluation.

An employee of the post office said: “Forms will be kept at the counters to get a feedback from the customers about the working of the post office. Any customer can fill the form regarding his/her experience. To improve the work quality,the feedback forms will be discussed by the officers and instructions will be issued to employees accordingly.”

Meanwhile,some employees of the post office said,“No doubt the working of post offices will improve,but our work load will increase due to staff shortage as work will have to be completed within a stipulated time.”

The residents,meanwhile,are basking in the attention being spared to the long neglected postal service. Senior citizens Ranjeet Singh and Amarjeet Singh said: “It is a welcome step but only time will tell how much the working of the post offices will improve.”