(a) the name of cities in the country where Foreign Post Offices are functioning at present;
(b) whether the foreign exchange earnings by a city is taken into consideration while opening a Foreign Post Office;
(c) if so, whether Moradabad, which earns foreign exchange of over 1500 crores annually is being considered for setting up a foreign post office there;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) There are 4 Foreign Post offices in the country functioning at Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi.
(b) Foreign Post Office is primarily an Office of exchange which exchanges mails with offices in foreign countries and for booking of articles both domestic and foreign including parcels, normal post offices are available in all cities and towns. Moradabad has adequate number of Post Offices from where such articles can be booked. The basic consideration for opening of a Foreign Post office is the presence of a major international airport/seaport from where large volume of mails is received/dispatched from/to foreign countries.
(c) & (d): Does not arise in view of reply to (b) above.
(e) Foreign Post Office is opened at a location which has a major seaport/ international airport to facilitate the easy exchange of mails with foreign countries. Moradabad does not fulfil this criteria.