Uttarakhand Residents Face Aadhaar Update Nightmare at Overburdened Post Offices
People across Uttarakhand are experiencing major problems getting their Aadhaar cards updated. Limited service centers and persistent technical issues are sending thousands to post offices, placing immense pressure on the postal system. From the plains to the hills, individuals are missing work and school to make repeated trips for basic corrections, often without success.
System Breakdown Forces Reliance on Postal Network
The situation deteriorated after Aadhaar updation services were suspended at many Common Service Centers due to data irregularities. While some details can be changed online, biometric updates and certain corrections still require physical verification at authorized centers. With CSCs shut or irregular in numerous areas and UIDAI centers limited, post offices have become the primary access point across much of the state.
Aadhaar updates are crucial for accessing pensions, ration entitlements, welfare schemes, banking services, and school admissions. The current system failures are directly impacting people's ability to receive these essential benefits.
Chaotic Scenes in Dehradun and Hill Districts
In the state capital, long queues form at post offices even before counters open at 8 AM. Technical glitches and heavy footfall mean waiting times frequently stretch into hours. Rajan Negi, a customer at the General Post Office at Clock Tower, shared his frustration. "I came around 11 AM and till 3 PM my work was not done. We recently changed houses and my wife's card also needs updating. Post offices don't open on weekends, so we have to miss work," he said.
Dehradun has approximately 110 post offices, with officials confirming nearly 85% are currently handling Aadhaar updation. Large centers like the GPO have up to four dedicated counters and serve more than 100 customers daily. Of the two UIDAI centers in the capital, one has shut down and the other is being relocated, further reducing options.
The difficulties are more severe in hill districts like Bageshwar and Almora. Irregular operations, staff shortages, and frequent disruptions make Aadhaar updation particularly challenging for residents traveling from remote villages.
Personal Stories Highlight Systemic Failures
Sagar, a student from Kanda, missed school for several days but failed to get his Aadhaar corrected even after five visits. "I finally got the correction done at the Bageshwar head post office after spending an entire day there, but even after six months, the updated Aadhaar has not been issued. My time, money, and schooling have all suffered," he revealed.
Kamla Devi reported that a minor error led to her pension and ration being stopped. "There is only one center, and that too is unreliable," she lamented. Uma Devi summarized the frustration many feel: "Aadhaar is mandatory for almost every government and private service, but the system to get corrections done is simply not working."
An employee at the Bageshwar head post office explained that demand far exceeds capacity, forcing officials to issue appointments on a weekly roster. In Almora, residents from Dwarahat, Chaukhutia, and other remote villages said Aadhaar updation services were suspended at several post offices, compelling them to travel to district headquarters where overcrowding and long waits are routine.
Postal Staff Stretched Beyond Limits
In US Nagar, pressure continues to mount at the Rudrapur head post office as Aadhaar enrollment and correction requests surge. Post Master Pravin Basliyal said nearly 100 people visit daily, but only 35 to 40 applications can be processed. "We have a dedicated operator, but Aadhaar work alone keeps three to four staff members engaged throughout the day. With a staff strength of just 24, managing routine postal work becomes difficult," he explained.
As a result, postmen are frequently diverted from delivery routes, affecting mail services. "The postal department already handles banking, savings schemes, parcels, and official correspondence. Aadhaar work has added to the load," Basliyal added.
Aadhaar operator Priyanshi Gupta pointed to frequent technical failures. "The system often does not accept entries. The UIDAI portal rejects applications citing lack of original documents even when they are available, wasting time and money," she said.
One resident waiting in the queue for the second consecutive day on Friday said he had taken leave from work but returned empty-handed due to server issues. "People blame post offices, but the staff here is clearly overstretched," he observed.
Some Districts Manage Better Through Expansion
In contrast, some districts have handled the surge more effectively by expanding capacity and reorganizing workflows. At the head post office in Roorkee, four Aadhaar counters have been opened, up from one earlier, allowing around 150 updates daily. "Applications have increased fivefold, but the process is smooth. No one is asked to return the next day," said Post Master Vinod Sharma.
In Manglaur town near Roorkee, queues remain manageable. "Earlier, about 30 people came daily. Now around 50 do, and one counter is sufficient," said Post Master Ashok Kumar.
In Haridwar and Nainital, officials reported smoother Aadhaar updation processes. At the Haridwar GPO, dedicated counters have been opened—two for child enrollment and mobile number changes, and two others for issuing new cards. "There have been no complaints so far," said Post Master Anil Kumar, noting that multiple post offices at Kankhal, Jwalapur, and Sector 1, BHEL (Ranipur) are also engaged in the process.
At the Mallital post office, around 120 update slots are provided daily, supported by upgraded systems and token rescheduling facilities. Haldwani Tehsildar Kuldeep Pandey said seven to eight Aadhaar centers are operational across the city, including at the tehsil campus, banks, and block offices. In Ramnagar, about 50 people visit the post office daily, supplemented by multiple additional centers.
Officials Hope for Stabilization Soon
Administrative officials attributed the disruptions to technical issues, a shortage of authorized operators, and UIDAI guidelines. They confirmed steps are being taken to address these problems.
Officials in Dehradun expressed hope that the situation would stabilize in coming weeks. "The major pressure came from linking Aadhaar biometrics with ration cards. Technical issues are being resolved, but it's true our staff is stretched thin. Most post offices now handle extensive banking operations along with e-commerce. Unlike private banks, we do not outsource this work. We are doing our best, and issues are being resolved with each passing day," said a senior postmaster.
City councillors have been demanding more localized centers across neighborhoods to ease the pressure on the postal system. As Uttarakhand residents continue their struggle for updated Aadhaar cards, the need for systemic improvements remains urgent.
