Postal dept and AP bus company in courier deal

In a deal that will help increase the revenue of both departments, the Postal wing and the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation officials have signed a deal to set up a courier service.

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh): The Postal wing and the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation officials have signed a deal to deliver courier services right at people's doorsteps.

The deal will help increase the income of both departments. The APSRTC is to offer courier and cargo services to people through the postal wing.

First, it plans to begin the services on a pilot project in Vijayawada and would expand to other places in the state. The officials said to call tenders for other districts for the same.

They are holding talks with the postal wing on reducing the price for each parcel services. The APSRTC has focussed on home delivery of services as there is good response for courier and cargo bookings.

At present booking for covers and parcels is available from one bus station to another.

Since it takes more time for delivery in bus stations like -- Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool the APSRTC decided to deliver the same at homes of customers.

In this regard, the postal wing held several rounds of talks with courier agencies. While the postal wing asked for Rs 10 per cover on an average, the RTC offered some reduction.

The postal wing has agreed to make home delivery services in Vijayawada. These courier services will be started soon officials say. They put it that they will call tenders for expanding the courier services for home delivery to other districts.

Focus on Cargo

The officials shifted their focus on cargo and parcel bookings by business categories. They conducted a survey on the prices of goods transport and parcel services in the private sector.

The officials involved in an exercise to finalise the process. Now they are focused on getting the parcels, cargo from business centres, shops and traders and to appoint a consultant for smooth services.

In 2019, RTC earned Rs 52 cr income after counting the expenditure through cargo services.

Last year it earned Rs 42 cr income though the Corona pandemic hit business which stalled and reduced its services.