Red letter boxes to stay, being reimagined and digitally monitored, says Chief Post Master General

Bringing the curtains down on the ongoing speculation that India Posts is seriously contemplating phasing out Red Letterboxes, Chief Post Master General, Telangana Circle, P.V.S. Reddy has in no uncertain terms asserted that far from being phased out, the iconic letter boxes were being reimagined and digitally monitored.

“These letterboxes remain an important access point for citizens, especially in semi-urban and rural belts and stay relevant in today’s postal ecosystem,” Dr. Reddy said pointing out that Telangana continues to maintain 9,150 letterboxes, of which 2,069 are attached to departmental post offices.

Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday (August 21), the CPMG noted that in July alone, 98.91% of letterboxes were cleared on time, with 11.98 lakh ordinary letters collected. “Digital Monitoring with Nanyatha software has ensured ensure efficiency and accountability. As many as 1,474 letter boxes are now monitored through the Nanyatha mobile application. Every time a letter box peon clears a box, they scan its barcode and record the number of letters collected,” the senior postal department official pointed out.

Dismissing the social media hue and cry over the doing away of red letter boxes, the senior official said rather than fading away, they are being integrated into a technology-driven ecosystem, where tradition meets innovation. “For millions, it remains a trusted gateway to communication, even in the age of emails and instant messaging. The Postal department ensures that letterboxes are repainted annually and placed at strategic and accessible locations, keeping the symbol of trust visible and functional,” he noted.

Registered letter to continue

Another issue the senior postal official flagged was the rumours that India Post was phasing out Registered Letters. Dr. Reddy said the India Post currently offers two domestic products — Speed Post and Registered Letters. Speed Post, introduced in August 1986, ensures address specific delivery and Registered Letters, a service that predates Independence, guarantees addressee-specific delivery. “Going forward, registration will continue to be available as a value added service — but only for Speed Post items,” he pointed out.

He stated that the customer could still opt for addressee-specific delivery through Speed Post. Registration for other categories of mail will, however, no longer be available. The Department has already published a Gazette Notification on August 18, 2025, detailing this change. The new framework, including guidelines, tariffs, and terms of service for Speed Post and value added services, will come into effect from October 1, 2025. “In short, Registered delivery is here to stay as a value added service on Speed Post Letters and Parcels,” the Chief Post Master General said.

Dr. Reddy called upon the citizens to leverage the postal network by accessing Passport and Aadhar services through the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (PoPSKs). Post Offices have become a trusted arm of citizen service delivery by operating Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (PoPSKs) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. In Telangana Circle, there are 14 functional PoPSK centres, providing crucial services such as issuance of new passports, re-issue/renewal of passports and Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs).

The application process at PoPSKs has been made seamless and citizen friendly. With a daily handling capacity of 825 slots for passports and 80 slots for PCCs, Telangana’s PoPSKs processed 52,410 transactions in financial year 2025-26, achieving an average slot utilization of 72.3% which gives scope for early slot booking at Wanaparthi, Vikarabad, Medchal and Khammam.

“This performance underlines the growing reliance of citizens on post offices for passport services. By extending passport facilities through the postal network, the government has decentralised access, saving applicants in semi-urban and rural regions the burden of travelling to distant Passport Offices,” he said giving an option for the needy people to bank on India Post.

Aadhar enrolment

Post offices have taken frontline role in delivering Aadhaar enrolment and update services through its vast network of Aadhar Enrolment-cum-Updation Centres (AEKs). In Telangana Circle, there are 265 centres catering to both rural and urban populations. These centres provide citizens with convenient and affordable access to Aadhaar-linked services close to their homes. During FY 2025–26, 1,44,444 Aadhaar-related transactions were processed by Telangana Circle alone.