Post card rate doubles

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 25. The postal rates for a host of inland services will go up sharply from June 1, an official release said here today. The hike covers all types of post cards, letters, parcels, book packets and even registered newspapers, whose hike was rolled-back last time following protests from newspaper establishments.

The announcement comes as no surprise because a hike in postal rates had been hinted by the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, in his budget speech.

Ordinary single and reply post cards would now cost double while the cost of the printed and competition post cards will go up by Re. 1. Thus the ordinary post card would now cost 50 paise (presently 25 paise), reply post card Re. 1 (50 paise), competition post card would be sold for Rs. 5 (Rs. 4) and the printed post card will cost Rs. 3 (Rs. 2). Letters and books (pattern and simple packets) will also cost Re. 1 more.

For registered newspapers, a single copy under 50 grams will now cost 25 paise instead of 15 paise, between 50 and 100 grams it will be 50 paise instead of the present 25 paise and every additional 100 grams will cost 20 paise instead of 10 paise. In case of more than one copy of the same issue being carried in the same packet, the revised rates will be 50 paise for under 100 grams and 20 paise for each additional 100 grams.

Parcels not weighing more than 500 grams will be charged Rs. 16 (Rs. 12) while the fee for every 500 additional grams will remain the same at Rs. 15. The registration fee is being revised to Rs. 17 instead of the present Rs. 14.

Concessional registration fee for printed books is being doubled to Rs. 2.50. The first 100 grams of book packets and every additional 100 grams will cost Rs. 2 and Rs. 3 respectively. The fee for an acknowledgement is also being revised to Rs. 3 from the present Rs. 2.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Playing up indiscretions
Next     : Wage ceiling for EPF scheme raised