Bhubaneswar, Aug 8: As Rakhi Purnima approaches, the excitement of sending Rakhi across districts, states, and even abroad has been marred by significant delays at post offices in Bhubaneswar and other areas of Odisha. The ongoing software issues, particularly with the newly launched Advance Postal Technology (APT) 2.0, have left many families disappointed as they are unable to send Rakhi on time.
Sources reveal that the problem began when several individuals went to the main post office in Bhubaneswar to send Rakhi to their brothers, only to be turned away. Shibangi, a resident of Bhubaneswar, was trying to send five Rakhis to her brothers, one of whom lives in Bengaluru and others in different states. However, due to the software glitch, all her Rakhis were returned, and she was told that the remaining Rakhis would be sent the next day.
This issue has also been observed at various post offices in the city. Many people, including Kulamani Panda and Gayatrimala Pradhan, had to wait for several hours in long lines to send their Rakhis, only to face disappointment when the software problems persisted.
Post office staff members have acknowledged the problem and attributed it to the recent implementation of the new software system, which is causing delays. The post office officials have assured that the software issues are being worked on, but they also confirmed that the issue has affected the timely delivery of Rakhi packages, and Rakhi Purnima may not be celebrated as planned for many.
The situation has given rise to complaints that private courier companies are benefiting from the delays, as they charge significantly higher fees for similar services. For example, sending Rakhi via a courier service costs more than ₹500, while the post office charges just ₹40.
The Department of Posts has requested understanding from the public, saying that they are doing their best to resolve the issues. The Director of the PMO, Shubhendu Prasad Tripathy, stated that the new software is still in the early stages, which is why both customers and staff are facing difficulties. He assured the public that the situation would improve soon.
While post offices across India are grappling with similar issues, it seems that this problem is especially acute in Bhubaneswar. Authorities are urging people to continue using postal services, even though they may face delays.
In the meantime, many are turning to alternative solutions, including local courier services, to ensure their Rakhis reach their loved ones on time.
