Cuttack,22nd Oct 2025: World Post Day. This day is observed every year by the Universal Postal Union to raise awareness about the role of postal services in providing reliable service and contributing to social and economic development worldwide.
In India, postal services have evolved significantly since the British era, and with time, digitalization has transformed its functioning. The postal department has introduced several new schemes in coordination with banks.
Earlier, Odisha’s postal services were part of the Bengal and Bihar Postal Circle, but in 1949, after becoming an independent postal entity, the main postal headquarters was established in Buxi Bazaar, Cuttack, under the name General Post Office (GPO). This GPO has been operational for 76 years without interruption.
From Letters to Digital Services
There was a time when mobile phones or the internet didn’t exist, and postal letters were the primary (and often only) means of communication. People would write letters to loved ones in India and abroad, and postmen would deliver them to rural households. Some people used to wait for months to receive letters.
But those days have changed.
With the advent of mobile phones and the internet, the importance of sending letters by post has reduced. However, the postal department has shifted focus to digital services, which are expanding rapidly.
Transformation of Cuttack GPO
The Cuttack GPO, one of the oldest postal headquarters in Odisha located in Buxi Bazaar, has undergone several functional changes to adapt to government schemes.
Especially after the introduction of Aadhaar (UID) cards, the GPO has become significantly important. Since 2017, it has served as an Aadhaar enrollment center, handling:
New Aadhaar registrations
Aadhaar corrections
Biometric updates
More than a hundred people visit daily for these services.
Passport Services and More
Earlier, people had to go to Bhubaneswar to apply for passports, but now this service is also available at Cuttack GPO, including:
New passport issuance
Passport renewals
Since it is the only center in Cuttack district offering this service, people from various districts of Odisha now come here for passport services.
New Initiatives and Financial Services
Since May this year, the Gyan Post program has been launched from the GPO, which facilitates the delivery of educational books to various institutions.
Additionally, various financial services are offered, including:
5-year fixed deposit schemes
Monthly income schemes
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Through India Post Payments Bank, beneficiaries can also access government aid schemes directly via postal services.
A Customer Service Center is available to handle and resolve consumer complaints.
Postal Services Like a Bank
With these changes, postal services now function like banks, and more customers are joining the system. According to Senior Postmaster Asit Kumar Nayak, over 5 lakh (500,000) customers are currently connected to the Buxi Bazaar GPO.
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