After School Mergers, Centre’s Postal Network Rationalisation Sparks Concern in Tripura, 20 Agartala Post Offices Merged, Postal Workers Protest

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 14, 2026

Following the controversial consolidation and merger of schools in Tripura, another major restructuring initiative involving a Central Government-run public service network has triggered concern and protests. This time, the issue concerns the merger of 20 post offices in the Agartala urban area with their respective Sub-Post Offices, a move that postal employees say is creating serious inconvenience for ordinary customers, particularly elderly people, economically weaker sections and residents who depend on nearby postal facilities.

Postal employees staged a protest in front of the Head Post Office at Chowmuhani in Agartala on Friday, November 13, opposing the decision to merge 20 post offices and attach them to other Sub-Post Offices. The protesting employees also submitted a deputation to the authorities, demanding the withdrawal of the decision and restoration of the earlier postal service arrangements.

According to the protesting postal employees, the decision was taken through a circular issued on October 29. Under the new arrangement, 20 post offices operating in the Agartala urban area have reportedly been merged with or attached to their respective Sub-Post Offices. The employees alleged that the decision was implemented without adequately considering the difficulties that ordinary postal service users would face.

The immediate impact is being felt by customers who previously accessed postal services close to their homes. Earlier, residents could visit nearby post offices to deposit or withdraw money and avail themselves of other postal facilities. Following the restructuring, many customers are reportedly being compelled to travel approximately three kilometres to reach the designated Sub-Post Offices for services that were previously available within their neighbourhoods.

The protesters argued that the decision would disproportionately affect economically weaker families, elderly citizens, pensioners and people living in peripheral areas. They pointed out that postal facilities are not used exclusively by financially well-off urban residents. A considerable section of the population, including people from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, depends on nearby post offices for routine financial transactions and essential postal services.

For many such customers, travelling additional distances means spending extra money on transportation and losing valuable time. The employees further argued that people with limited financial resources may find it particularly difficult to make repeated journeys simply to access basic postal facilities. They fear that the consolidation could gradually weaken the accessibility of an important public service network.

The protesting employees have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the October 29 circular and restoration of all 20 post offices in their previous locations and operational arrangements. They maintain that administrative convenience should not come at the cost of public accessibility and the interests of ordinary postal customers.

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