Postal dept hires Boeing

The department of posts, which celebrated 150 years of the Indian post office in 2004, has leased a Boeing-737 aircraft from Air India to deliver mail and other items to and from Calcutta.
The freighter, with a carrying capacity of 14 tonnes of cargo, is being run by the department’s West Bengal circle from August 29. Apart from the postal department, a private courier company, Blue Dart, operates a freighter from Calcutta airport.
“This is a pilot project covering the Northeast. There are plans to introduce more aircraft in other sectors,” said Harpreet Singh, the director (mail business) of West Bengal circle.
The delivery system between Calcutta and the Northeast has been facing problems owing to various logistical factors. Before leasing the aircraft, the postal department used to send letters and other goods to the Northeast and back to Calcutta by commercial flights.
The leased freighter operates from Calcutta six days a week, taking off at 7am and returning at 6.30pm, covering all Northeast destinations. Apart from letters, it carries garments, fruits, vegetables, surgical equipment, betel and other goods to the Northeast.
05/12/07 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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Categories: cargo Dec 2007, New Dec 2007