Mumbai: Cramped space, server issue turn Nehru Road post office into hell

Senior citizens had to deal with overcrowding at the Nehru Road post office in Mulund West on Monday. The facility's building also houses the NS Road post office as the structure out of which it used to operate was declared dilapidated five months ago. On Monday, most of the city's post offices were hit by a server issue, and this exacerbated this situation at the already-busy Nehru Road post office.

Ravi Naik, a local who visited the Nehru Road post office on Monday, said, "Things were chaotic and there was no place to stand. The postal department needs to handle operations better as mostly the elderly come here. I just came here to avail myself of the Speed Post facility but I had to wait for a long time."

"There are eight counters - four for the Nehru Road post office and four for the NS Road post office - but there was no place to stand. There was only a two-to-three-foot stretch available for visitors to stand," Naik added. He suggested that officials increase the number of counters.

P G Vishwanathan, Ramesh Gala and Ravi Naik

Ramesh Gala, another local, said, "I received my gas bill after the due date. Maybe this is because two post offices are operating out of the same building. Even now they are not accepting the bill amount as the due date has passed." I received the bill, which was due on January 5, on January 6. Now, I have to pay an extra Rs 100 because I received the bill late."

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An official said the postal department was looking for an alternative site for the NS Road post office and this was just a temporary measure. "We are aware the area is small at the Nehru Road post office. But no other option was available in the area. We are working on a proposal to shift this post office to Postal Colony in Mulund. We are looking for a suitable place," the official said.

P G Vishwanathan, 77, visited the Nehru Road post office but due to the server issue, he had to return home without completing his task. "I came all the way from Dombivli. We used to stay at Mulund West but as our building is under redevelopment, we shifted to Dombivli. Now, I will have to return to Mulund to visit this post office," he said.

9
Day in January when server issue occurred

Rs 100
Fine for late payment of bill