Administrative Reforms

New Delhi: India Post got its new logo on Tuesday - of a bird in flight - that aims to give the postal service a corporate look and reflects its new approach towards business, Minister of Communications and Information Technology A Raja said. Launching the new logo, Raja said, "The bold strokes convey free flight. The choices of colours are red and yellow. Red has been chosen for its traditional association with the postal service. It embodies passion, power and commitment. Yellow communicates hope, joy and happiness. Evidence of the combination of the two colours is found across the country."

The minister said that India Post would induct four more freighter aircraft to increase its speed post services to almost 15 major cities and towns. The department is in talks with the government to ensure that the leased aircraft could be pressed into service by the year-end. These aircraft will make overnight delivery in major towns and cities. India Post had launched its first aircraft services exclusively for the north-eastern states in 2007.

The department has also launched a series of fully upgraded post offices under Project Arrow makeover plan in rural areas, an India Post official said. By the end of 2008, 500 such post offices will be launched across the country, said Raja. Apart from the new logo and a new slogan as well as new exteriors and interiors, these post offices will have a computer network, improved mail services delivery and upgraded connectivity.

Raja said that post offices in rural areas will work as a single window facility for banking, money remittance, transmission and delivery of information. Major technology initiatives have been planned to bring Automatic Mail Processing systems to process the mail faster. "Postmen will carry devices that will capture and transmit the signature of the addressees digitally. Mechanised hubs will be established and logistics and warehousing centres built for providing supply chain solutions to the businesses," the minister added. The post office will expand its outreach to new and untapped markets, especially the parcel, logistics, retail and e-business, said an official. There are over 155,000 post offices covering urban and rural areas - the largest postal network in the world. (IANS)