In addition to routine postal services, Department of Posts in Pune region will now start stamp duty registration facility at three post offices in the city.

So far, the Pune division has collected Rs 83 lakh in five months — April to August.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Pune post master general S C Jarodia said, “As part the upgradation of our services, we have introduced the stamp duty and registration facility from the current financial year at three post offices in Pune — including the GPO, city post and Parvati post office. In the initial two months, the collection exceeded Rs 45 lakh, while by the end of August, the stamp collection figures stand at Rs 83 lakh approximately.”

To implement this scheme, the postal department had to install machines at each of the three post offices.

“On the stamp duty registration, we collect 0.5 per cent as commission, which is deducted at the time of transmitting the money,” he said.

The postal department even approached the Promoters and Builders Association of Pune (PBAP) requesting it to urge its members to utilise the service.

P G Karne, assistant director of postal services, Pune, said, “To spread the word about this facility, we even approached the PBAP requesting it to urge its members to get their properties registered from us. So far, the response has been good and we expect more such transactions in the future.”

PBAP president Satish Magar said, “It is true that the postal department has approached us. However, since most of the members of PBAP have accounts in banks, which also provide a similar facility, they find it more convenient to do so through banks. Despite that, some of our members must have transacted through the post. The non-organised sector must have given a better response.”

... contd.