Resident oppose move to shut Chalad post office

Residents of Chalad have renewed their protest against the government’s decision to close the Chalad post office, with the Post Office Protection Action Committee demanding that the move be withdrawn. The Postal department has proposed shutting down the post office from January 17, 2026.

Action committee member M. Sudhi said the closure was being justified under a policy to shut loss-making post offices, but asserted that the Chalad Post Office was functioning profitably. It has about 6,500 savings bank accounts with deposits totalling ₹35 crore and more than 250 senior citizen accounts.

He said a majority of the account holders are senior citizens, including women. The committee warned that the closure would force residents to depend on distant post offices for managing small savings schemes and accessing essential postal services. Residents said the proposal had triggered strong opposition, as the post office is a Central government institution serving one of the most densely populated areas of Kannur city. As part of the agitation, the residents have decided to intensify the protest.

A protest march and dharna will be held on January 14 at the office of the Postal Superintendent in Payyambalam. Meanwhile, K. Sudhakaran, MP, has intervened, urging Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia to halt the closure. He has also sought the intervention of the Kerala chief postmaster general and the north region postmaster general to withdraw the proposal.