Pvt couriers set to lock horns with govt

The Express Industry Council of India (EICI), an association of Indian courier operators, will meet on Thursday to decide its move against the proposed Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 2007, which is seen as a threat to the Rs 4,000 crore courier industry.

The EICI has demanded a copy of the draft Bill from Secretary (Posts) IMG Khan so that it can submit its reactions to the ministry concerned.

Earlier, the body had asked the ministry to implement a 'price multiple system'. Under this system, a price is fixed for the first weight slab and thereafter a multiple of the price is levied by the private courier.

For instance, if the first weight slab is fixed at 20 gm and the postal department sets Rs 5 as the official rate for it, the private courier would levy two or three times of the same amount, that is, Rs 10 or Rs 15.

Contrary to this, the draft Bill lays out provisions under which the private couriers will have to levy five times the amount fixed by the postal department in case of general mails, and 2.5 times in case of urgent mails, on a slab of 150 gm.