Madurai MP Su Venkatesan has demanded immediate intervention from the Chief Post Master General of the Tamil Nadu circle to halt the proposed temporary merger of two sub-post offices in Madurai: the Madurai Railway Divisional Office SO and the Jaihindpuram SO.
Concerns Over Permanent Closure
Venkatesan warned that historically, so-called “temporary mergers” have served as a pretext for permanent closures in the region. He highlighted that no new post office has been established in Madurai for 20 years, despite the city’s population crossing 22 lakh in 2026.
Financial Performance and Public Dependency
To counter the rationale for closure, the MP cited the strong financial performance and public dependency of both branches. The post office near the DRM office operates with two staff members—one permanent and one extra-departmental worker—and serves railway employees, educational institutions, and NGOs. According to Venkatesan, “It handles more than 5,000 transactions and mobilised over Rs 2 crore in deposits over a three-month period.”
Similarly, the Jaihindpuram SO acts as an economic lifeline for a densely populated working-class neighbourhood. “It manages more than 3,000 transactions, mobilised nearly Rs 1.5 crore in deposits, and disbursed an equal amount in the single month of April 2026 alone,” he added.
Impact on Financial Inclusion
The MP emphasised that decommissioning these offices undermines India Post’s mission of financial inclusion. Copies of the request were forwarded to the Union Minister of Communications, seeking protection for the two offices.
