DoP to extend tie-up with MCX to 7-8 more cities

With the aim to provide better connectivity to Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) members, the Department of Post (DoP) intends to extend its services to 7-8 more cities in Gujarat.

Both DoP and MCX had earlier agreed on providing facilities like making enquiries and futures trading at the department's post offices in Unjha.

Under the tie-up, the IT infrastructure will be provided by MCX while DoP's personnel will be trained to handle the enquiries and transactions.

"We are about people and providing them connectivity. Unjha is sort of a hub for commodity exchange in Gujarat but we want to provide services to more and more farmers and other traders in these small towns and villages. Therefore, we intend to expand and take these services to more post offices in other cities. Initially, we will be providing these services in 7-8 more cities in the state," said Vijaylaxmi Sheth, Chief Postmaster General, Gujarat Circle, DoP.

In a public-private partnership with telecom operators as well, DoP recently tied up with Hutch to provide electronic collection of post-paid mobile bills of the latter's subscribers through select post offices across Gujarat.

Covering around 135 locations, the telecom services provider will receive details of subscribers who have paid their bills through e-Payment Post Offices.

"We have been exploring innovative options to make bill payment a simple process for our over 46 lakh subscribers in Gujarat. Through this initiative with DoP, Hutch subscribers can conveniently pay their bills by cash at the nearest post office," said Balesh Sharma, senior vice president, Hutch Gujarat.

A similar service is already being provided by the department for subscribers of BSNL and Idea Cellular Ltd. DoP also intends to introduce more services like offering pre-paid vouchers at its post offices.

Sheth added that the department will continue to increase the number of e-Payment Post Offices till the services are made available from 537 of such offices.

In Gujarat, the services will be available in all the major cities including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Gandhidham, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat and Vapi. Sheth also announced that tariffs of the local Speed Post articles have been reduced by 40 per cent.