Pune: Residents of Aundh and Baner have to literally travel three to five kilometers to get their transactions done in any post office. They don’t have this facility in their area.

The residents have been waging a pitched battle against Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to allot a space for the Post Office in the newly-constructed commercial complex near Aundh Swimming Pool.
They speculate that the ongoing political rivalry between National Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar and Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi is the reason for the stalemate. “Pawar supporters don’t want to see Kalmadi hogging all the limelight for alloting the space for new post office near the swimming pool complex,” say residents.

At present, apart from three post offices located on Pune University, National Chemical Laboratory residential complex and Sakalnagar premises, there is one situated in Sindh Housing Society. The post office authorities are making sincere efforts to shift the office from Sindh Housing Society as people complained of impermissibility. Outsiders are not allowed on the high-profile housing society premises for security reasons.

Jose Kollanoor, senior postal superintendent, told Cityplus that he would be meeting PMC Commissioner Parvinsingh Pardeshi and requesting him to allot a space in the built-up complex near Aundh swimming pool. He, however, denied any political rivalry between Pawar and Kalmadi supporters over the non-allotment of a space to new post office in a complex near the swimming pool.

Says Kishore Lasure, an Aundh resident, “PMC authorities seem to be neglecting our demand to allot a space for new post office in the newly-constructed complex. Presently, the citizens have to travel a distance of three to five kilometers from Aundh, Pashan, Sus Road and Balewadi to Sindh Housing Society, even for buying postal stationery and sending money orders.”

“The opening of the post office at Aundh will benefit customers and save people’s time. The politicians should bury their hatchet and work towards people’s welfare and betterment,” says a resident, who doesn’t want to reveal his name.

The non-availability of a post office in Aundh is adversly affecting the traders, which depend on post offices to a large extent. “They are facing numerous inconveniencies,” Deepak Patil says.

Kallanoor expresses a need to equally protect the interests of both sides. “We are seriously considering PMC offers space for a post office near the swimming pool complex. At the same time, we will also guard the concern of residents and traders. I have recommended the Post Master General in this regard,” he informs.