**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding the Postal Department's land use, profitability, and building infrastructure. It outlines plans to optimize the Department of Posts (DoP) through technology, logistics, and infrastructure upgrades to enhance profitability. The document also addresses the construction of new post office buildings, including specific plans for the Attingal constituency in Kerala for the financial year 2025-26.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Commercial Land Development:**
* The government does not have plans to develop Postal Department land for commercial purposes.
* **Profit Center Measures:**
* Identification of business verticals and process reengineering to optimize service delivery.
* Focus on expanding parcel and logistics services through technology and partnerships.
* IT Modernization Project 2.0 (APT 2.0) to enhance digital transformation and customer experience.
* Introduction of DIGIPIN, a geocoded addressing system, to simplify address management and KYC.
* Reassessment and optimization of land holdings to support business growth and inclusivity.
* Financial sustainability pursued through infrastructure investment, efficiency improvements, and service digitization.
* **Post Office Buildings:**
* Out of 25,096 departmental post offices, 20,597 operate from rented buildings, while 4,499 operate from department owned buildings.
* The department has 1460 vacant plots.
* An approved plan (2021-22 to 2025-26) exists under the Estates Management Scheme (EMS) for constructing new post office buildings.
* 44, 45, 55, and 48 post office buildings were constructed in 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively.
* A plan to construct 439 post offices is slated for FY 2025-26.
* **Attingal Constituency (Kerala):**
* Nine vacant departmental land parcels are available in the Attingal constituency.
* Construction of new post office buildings at Avanavancherry and Pangode is earmarked for FY 2025-26.
* The Postal Civil Wing is examining site suitability and technical parameters for construction at these two locations.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Department of Posts (DoP):**
* *Impact:* The DoP will undergo significant changes through technological upgrades, infrastructure development, and a strategic focus on logistics and digital services to improve efficiency and financial sustainability.
* *Action Required:* Implement the outlined measures for business optimization, digital transformation, and infrastructure development.
* **Postal Civil Wing:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for assessing the feasibility of constructing new post office buildings on available land, specifically in locations like Avanavancherry and Pangode.
* *Action Required:* Conduct site suitability and technical parameter evaluations for construction in the specified locations.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Citizens will benefit from improved postal services, enhanced digital interfaces, and potentially new or upgraded post office facilities in certain areas, such as the Attingal constituency.
* *Action Required:* No immediate action required; benefit from improved services and infrastructure as changes are implemented.
Key Entities Referenced
DIGIPIN: A Digital Address Code initiative to introduce a geocoded addressing system for simplified address management and KYC processes.
Department of Posts: A department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India, responsible for postal services.
Adoor Prakash: Member of Parliament (MP) who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Communications: The government ministry responsible for communications and information technology.
Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development who answered the question in Lok Sabha.
IT Modernization Project 2.0: A project by the Department of Posts focused on digital transformation and improved customer experience, featuring the APT 2.0 platform.
Estates Management Scheme: A Department of Posts scheme for construction of new post office buildings from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Attingal constituency, Kerala: A parliamentary constituency in Kerala where the construction of post office buildings is being considered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2778
ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
POSTAL DEPARTMENT LAND FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSE
2778. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is planning to develop the land owned by the Postal Department
for commercial purpose, if so, the details thereof and the plan prepared for the same;
(b) the details of measures taken/being taken by the Government to make the Post Offices in the
country into profit centres;
(c) whether the Government is aware that large number of post offices in the country are
functioning in rented buildings even though the department have own land where the post offices are
situated and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether Government has any plan to construct own building for post offices functioning in
place of rented buildings and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has considered the demand for construction of building for post
offices in Attingal constituency, Kerala where department is having its own land and if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) No, sir. No plan has been prepared.
(b) The measures taken/being taken by the Government to make Post Offices in the country into
profit centres are as under:
i. Identification of Business Verticals and horizontals and Process Reengineering: The
Department of Posts (DoP) is optimizing its business verticals and processes.
Leveraging India Post’s extensive last-mile network, it aims to deliver mail,
financial, citizen-centric, and government services efficiently.
ii. Focus on Parcel and Logistics - Technology-Driven Logistics and Supply Chain
Evolution: A key focus is expanding parcel and logistics services with mechanized
delivery, road transport networks, integrated hubs, and e-commerce partnerships to
become a major logistics player
1iii. Digital and Technological Upgrades - IT Modernization Project 2.0: The IT
Modernization Project 2.0, featuring the APT 2.0 platform, is driving digital
transformation for improved customer experience.
iv. Digital Address Code (DIGIPIN): The DIGIPIN initiative introduces a geo-coded
addressing system to simplify address management and support KYC processes
v. Estates Management: On the estates front, land holdings have been reassessed and
optimized to support business growth and inclusivity, including facilities for
differently-abled persons and women.
vi. Analysis of the Financials of DoP: By investing in infrastructure, improving
operational efficiency, and digitizing services, DoP aims to achieve financial
sustainability.
(c) Yes, sir.
Out of 25,096 Departmental post offices, only 4,499 Post office are functioning from
buildings owned by the Department and rest 20,597 are functioning from rented buildings. There are
1460 vacant plots in the Department.
(d) Yes, sir.
Department has an approved plan from 2021-22 to 2025-26 under the Estates Management
Scheme (EMS) for construction of new post office buildings. New post office buildings constructed
from 2021-22 to 2024-25 is as below:
Activity 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Post office buildings
44 45 55 48
constructed
There is plan to construct 439 post offices in FY 2025-26.
(e) Yes, sir.
A total of nine vacant departmental land parcels are available within Attingal Parliamentary
Constituency, the details of which are as under:
i. Avanavancherry
ii. Chirayinkil West
iii. Kadakkavur-II
iv. Palayamkunnu
v. Pangode
vi. Pirappancode
vii. Perunkuzhy
viii. Vamanapuram
ix. Kallar
Among the above, the sites at Avanavancherry (Sl. No.1) and Pangode (Sl. No. 5) have been
earmarked for the construction of new Post Office buildings during the financial year 2025–26. The
feasibility, based on site suitability and related technical parameters, for constructing Post Office
buildings at two locations is being examined by the Postal Civil Wing.
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