Union Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran on Monday launched the postal department's One India One Rate concept for speed post, under which a minimum rate of Rs 25 would be charged for delivering a package, weighing not more than 50 gms, to any destination within the country.
The prevailing minimum rate of Rs 20 for speed post services within Chennai would however, continue, he said speaking at the function in Chennai, which also marked the launch of celebrations to mark 20 years since the service started.
Earlier, the charges for 50 gms packet was calculated on the distance, he said.
Stating the Centre proposed to have its airline service for the benefit of the postal department, he said initially the service would be introduced in the North East sector where, unfortunately the department's performance was not up to the mark.
The department, he said, proposed to introduce 'next day delivery' for its speed post service in major cities and towns and for other places on the third day.
The annual revenue earned by the speed post service, with 1,200 centres in the country, was about Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion), he said and added that the process of making postal services a multi-provider had already commenced by accepting, among other things, income tax returns and electricity bills payment.
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