Shillong, August 24: The Shillong General Post Office (GPO) was among 14 renovated post offices across the country virtually inaugurated today by Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), marking a significant step towards modernising postal infrastructure and strengthening technology-enabled service delivery.
The virtual inauguration was held as part of a national-level programme at Rang Bhavan, New Delhi, where Shri Scindia also launched the Dak Seva App and Dak MITRA App in the presence of Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
At Shillong, the programme was attended by Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, MLA; Shri Joseph Lalrinsailova, Chief Postmaster General, North Eastern Circle, Shillong; Shri Monjurlang Dkhar, Executive Engineer, Postal Civil Division; and Shri Yow Peter Raiphea, Deputy Director, P.A. & F., North Eastern Circle, along with officers and staff of the Department of Posts.
Speaking at the national programme, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Department of Posts has undertaken significant initiatives to modernise its services and expand its reach to citizens. He said the transformation is aimed at making postal services more efficient, accessible and responsive while retaining the service-oriented ethos of India Post.
The Union Minister said the launch of the digital applications and the inauguration of renovated post offices mark important milestones in the transformation of India Post. He emphasised the use of technology and renewed energy to strengthen the postal system and ensure that services reach citizens effectively, including at the last mile.
The Dak Seva App brings multiple postal services together on a single digital platform. Customers can use the app to locate post offices, book and track parcels, request pickups, make digital payments and access selected services related to Postal Life Insurance (PLI), Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI) and Post Office Savings Bank (POSB).
Available in 23 Indian languages, the Dak Seva App seeks to make postal services more accessible to citizens and is envisaged to evolve into a comprehensive citizen-service platform.
The Dak MITRA App, deployed across around 1.3 lakh Branch Post Offices, enables postal employees and Gramin Dak Sevaks to manage POSB, PLI/RPLI, mail and parcel services through a secure digital interface. The application incorporates OTP-based services and two-factor authentication to enhance security and efficiency.
Speaking on the transformation of the Department of Posts, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said that the Department has undergone significant changes over the past two years, with a focus on technology upgradation, policy reforms, organisational efficiency and modern infrastructure.
He highlighted initiatives aimed at expanding the reach of Rural Postal Life Insurance and strengthening customer-centric services. He also emphasised accountability, cost efficiency and training aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
As part of its modernisation drive, more than 110 post offices have been remodelled within universities, while around 40 post offices have been established in major cities. More than 5,700 cores under desktop-based ABT 2.0 are enabling real-time logistics monitoring and last-mile tracking, with the system now integrated with the Dak Seva and Dak MITRA applications.
India Post continues to play a major role in financial inclusion and last-mile service delivery, with around 40 crore Post Office Savings Bank accounts and 4 crore Sukanya Samriddhi accounts. The Department also handles approximately 7.5 crore parcels and 90 crore registered and Speed Post articles annually.
The renovation and virtual inauguration of the Shillong GPO marks an important milestone for Meghalaya, further strengthening the postal infrastructure available to citizens in Shillong and surrounding areas. The modernised facility, coupled with the Department’s digital initiatives, is expected to provide a more convenient and technology-enabled experience for postal customers.
The initiative also reinforces the role of India Post as an important instrument of public service delivery in Meghalaya and the wider Northeast, combining modern technology and infrastructure with its longstanding commitment to accessible, inclusive and citizen-centric services.
