COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore postal division plans to close the Ukkadam sub-post office and merge it with the Bazaar sub-post office. Residents in and around the Ukkadam have raised concerns and demanded that the postal department drop its plan to close the sub-post office.The Ukkadam area is surrounded by the Moulana Mohamed Ali Old Scrap Market, wholesale and retail fish markets, fruits market and more than 50,000 residents.A senior postal official said the department has a set of distance norms based on which the Ukkadam sub-post office is being merged with the Bazaar sub-post office. “Two sub-offices cannot co-exist at a closer distance. Moreover, the Ukkadam sub-post office lacks the ‘See Good, Feel Good’ initiative that offers customer amenities. This sub-office has no waiting place. Even when it rains, people should stand on the road. The building is rented, which makes it impossible for any additional amenities to be created. However, people need not panic. All the services have been digitised, and the govt is emphasising digital transactions.”Residents urged the govt to withdraw its plan to close the post office. Ibrahim, a resident of Karumbukadai, said, “Most of the govt schemes like the monthly Rs 1,000 for the school and college students are disbursed through postal account. It is sure that at least 3,000 beneficiaries would be affected. They would be forced to travel to the head post office on the Variety Hall Road or to Kuniyamuthur in case of queries. Many residents here have been maintaining various insurance schemes in the post office. Considering the demands from the public, the govt should withdraw its plan.”A resident of Saramedu, who didn’t want to be identified, stated that the closure would put many people in trouble, forcing them to travel a long distance for services like Aadhaar correction. “Ukkadam and its surrounding areas are densely populated. Often, when people want to make any corrections in ID cards, they use this sub-post office,” he said.It may be recalled that the Kottaimedu sub-post office was closed recently.
