First it was a change in uniform - from khaki to blue. Now the postmen, ubiquitous on his bicycle, will be driving around to deliver you the speed mail.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: First it was a change in uniform - from khaki to blue. Now the postmen, ubiquitous on his bicycle, will be driving around to deliver you the speed mail.
The Kerala Postal Circle has put on road, three electric cars to deliver and collect speed post articles in Thiruvananthapuram city and suburbs. Reva Electric Car Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KPC and the two partners will monitor the project for 11 months. The postal department will evaluate the project, which is essentially a technology demonstration, after 11 months.
“RECC has given us three cars free of cost. The department doesn’t have to bear any extra cost,” chief postmaster general Uday Balakrishnan said. Three customised electric cars, matching the red of the post boxes, have been delivered to the postal department from Bangalore. Postal department’s staff have been trained to drive the cars, which are far too driver-friendly than the ordinary cars. The cars, operated on emission-free battery, will have to cover 60 kilometres daily. Each car could carry 70 kgs of load apart from a driver and postman. Reva’s small turning radius and fast pickup would be ideal in penetrating the remote areas with its narrow roads where bicycles tread, the department believes.
“These cars are suitable for our work even on the narrow lanes of Thiruvananthapuram and its suburbs. We look forward to performance enhancement through eco-friendly means,” said Balakrishnan. In a later stage, the department may extend the service to Kochi and Kozhikode.
“We are quite happy with the experiment. With these cars we are able to deliver speed post articles to a radius of up to 25 km from the city, where courier services can’t match us. We are planning to build up a steady client base and tap into the market of private couriers, Balakrishnan said. “Since the articles are collected from the clients, they are safe from rain as the postman carries it in a car,” he added.
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