Union Government to Close 13 of 14 RMS Offices in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The Union Government has initiated steps to shut down nearly all Railway Mail Service (RMS) offices in Kerala. According to a directive from the Department of Posts, 13 out of 14 RMS offices in the state are set to be closed, with the office in Kochi remaining as the only operational hub.

This move is part of the "Mail and Parcel Optimization Project" (MPOP), which seeks to reorganize mail processing facilities across India. Under this plan, RMS offices are being reclassified into two categories: L-1 and L-2 hubs. Kochi has been designated as the state’s sole L-1 hub. The remaining offices, downgraded to L-2, are being phased out due to what officials describe as financial under-performance.

A similar plan had been proposed in 2024, which aimed to close 12 RMS offices in the state. That proposal faced resistance and was partially rolled back, sparing the offices at Kasaragod, Tirur, Alappuzha, and Thodupuzha. However, these were reclassified as L-2 hubs and are now also scheduled for closure under the new order.

In addition to closing the L-2 offices, the government has decided to end postal services routed through Kochi airport, and this could eventually affect Kochi’s L-1 status as well..

However, the Kerala government has expressed strong opposition to the closure plan, warning that it would weaken postal services across the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Union government to retain six additional intra-circle hubs in Shoranur, Vadakara, Aluva, Irinjalakuda, Thalassery, and Kayamkulam, alongside the four hubs already approved.

Shutting down a large number of RMS offices will limit access to postal services, forcing residents—especially those in rural areas—to travel longer distances and face delays. The restructuring could reduce the flexibility and specialized handling that RMS traditionally offered, especially for bulk mail.