A century-old government quarter being used as a makeshift post office near the Bambooflat masjid has come under sharp public criticism as residents highlight its deteriorating condition, poor infrastructure, and chronic service delays. Locals say the structure, meant to serve thousands living outside the capital in Sri Vijaya Puram and adjoining areas, has become unsafe and unfit for daily operations.
The foremost concern is the building’s visibly dilapidated state. With broken walls, damaged roofing, and no proper seating or counters, residents approaching the post office are forced to stand outside in the scorching sun or during heavy rain. “There is not even a shed for people waiting,” residents complained, adding that elderly depositors and women often suffer the most during long wait times.
Financial services, particularly fixed deposit withdrawals, are reported to be severely hit due to frequent fund delays. Locals say they often wait for hours, sometimes returning the next day, just to withdraw their FD amounts. With the office functioning as a crucial access point for banking, postal savings, and pension services, the delay has created repeated distress among families dependent on timely payouts.
Adding to the inconvenience is the absence of a duty officer when the Post Master is on leave. Residents claim that if the Post Master calls in sick, the office remains without an in-charge, halting basic operations for the entire day. Many allege that such lapses have become routine, pointing to gaps in staffing and supervision.
The issues, locals argue, stem largely from the administration’s failure to allocate a proper building for the post office despite its role in serving a large portion of the population outside Port Blair. The current structure, originally an old government quarter, was never designed to handle the volume of public traffic and postal workload it now receives.
Residents are now demanding urgent intervention from the authorities. They have appealed to the district administration and the postal department to streamline fund flow, ensure backup staffing, and shift the Bambooflat Post Office to a proper facility equipped with basic amenities such as shelter, seating, and a waiting area.
For thousands who rely on this lifeline for essential financial and documentation services, the demand is simple: a functional, safe, and dignified public service space.
