Lok Sabha Question No. 204 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Estate Property Management Scheme
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 204 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  AUGUST, 2018

## ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME

- *204.   SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many Post Office buildings across the country, particularly in Mumbai have been declared as heritage buildings and if so, the details thereof, location-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has launched the Estate Property Management Scheme under the Department of Posts, if so, the details including the aims and objectives thereof along with the funds sanctioned, allocated and released thereunder and the time by which the remaining funds are likely to be released;
- (c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that many post office buildings in the country are in a dilapidated condition, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  request  from  people's  representatives  to renovate such post offices, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto along with the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  modernize  post  offices  across  the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *204 FOR 1 ST  AUGUST, 2018 ON 'ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME'.

(a) Yes,  Madam.  36  Post  Office  buildings  across  the  country  including  Mumbai  GPO  in Mumbai,  Maharashtra  have  been  declared  as  heritage  buildings.    The  details  of  heritage buildings, location-wise, is at Annexure -I.

(b) The Government has a Scheme of Estates Management with an allocation of Rs.243.5 crores for the years 2017-2020. The key objective of the Scheme is to ensure development of an appropriate infrastructure to provide a congenial work environment and improve the delivery of postal services in a cost effective way for the benefit of the customers.  The Scheme includes construction  of  postal  buildings  including  Post  Offices,  mail  offices,  administrative  offices,  staff quarters,  besides  preservation  and  conservation  of  heritage  buildings  and  reconstruction  of dilapidated buildings. The Scheme also includes construction of toilets, installation of Roof Top Solar Power Packs and Rain Water Harvesting structures so as to contribute to Swachhata and sustainable development. Details of the Scheme are at Annexure-II.

Out  of  a  total  sanction  of  Rs.  178.04  crore  for  the  years  2017-18  and  2018-19,  total amount allocated and released in the two years has been Rs.160.64 crore. The details of fund sanctioned, allocated and released for the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 are as under.

(Funds in Rs. crore)

| Year    |   Sanctioned |   Allocated | Released   |
|---------|--------------|-------------|------------|
| 2017-18 |        93.04 |       93.04 | 93.04      |
| 2018-19 |        85    |       85    | 67.60*     |

*In addition to this Rs. 4.01 crore is approved for release.

The remaining funds of Rs. 13.39 crore is likely to be released from time to time in due course based on requirements, latest by March 2019.

(c) Yes,  Madam.  As  per  the  information  available  with  the  Department,  a  few  Post  Office buildings have got dilapidated and the details of the same are in Annexure III.

(d) Requests  have  been  received  from  people's  representatives  regarding  restoration  of Mumbai GPO, renovation of Motilal Nagar Post Office, Goregaon West and Vishnunagar Post Office, Dombivili in Maharshtra, Mirzapur Head Post Office and Chunar Sub- Post Office in Uttar Pradesh.  The details of such requests including the action taken thereon are at Annexure- IV.

(e) The Government has taken steps to improve the 'Look and Feel' of Post Offices based on  standardized  exteriors  and  counter  halls,  placing  proper  signages  and  standees  including induction  of  technology  for  modernization  of  services.  In  addition,  funds  are  provided  for  site preparation  for  Post  Office  Passport  Seva  Kendra,  setting  up  of  India  Post  Payments  Bank counters,  providing  ramps  and  rails  under  the  Sugamya  Bharat  Abhiyan  for  improving  the accessibility of Post Offices for differently abled persons.

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN PART (a) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 204 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME.

## List of Heritage Buildings

|   S.No | Name of Heritage Building               | Name of the Circle   |
|--------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------|
|      1 | Patna General Post Office (GPO)         | Bihar                |
|      2 | Bhagalpur Head Post Office (HPO)        | Bihar                |
|      3 | Postal Training Centre (PTC), Darbhanga | Bihar                |
|      4 | New Delhi General Post Office           | Delhi                |
|      5 | Delhi General Post Office               | Delhi                |
|      6 | Mandi Head Post Office                  | Himachal Pradesh     |
|      7 | Chhotta ShimlaPost Office               | Himachal Pradesh     |
|      8 | Shimla General Post Office              | Himachal Pradesh     |
|      9 | Ambedkar Chowk Post Office              | Himachal Pradesh     |
|     10 | Kasauli Post Office                     | Himachal Pradesh     |
|     11 | Mumbai General Post Office              |                      |
|     12 | Nagpur General Post Office              |                      |
|     13 | Director of Accounts (Postal), Nagpur   |                      |
|     14 | Pune General Post Office                | Maharashtra          |
|     15 | Panaji Head Post Office                 |                      |
|     16 | Amritsar Head Post Office               | Punjab               |
|     17 | Circle Office, Trivandram               | Kerala               |
|     18 | Postal Training Centre, Mysore          |                      |
|     19 | Divisional Office Bellary               |                      |
|     20 | Circle Office, Bangalore                | Karnataka            |
|     21 | Varanasi City Post Office               |                      |
|     22 | Varanasi Head Post Office               | Uttar Pradesh        |
|     23 | Lucknow General Post Office             |                      |
|     24 | Circle Office, Lucknow                  |                      |
|     25 | Agra Head Post Office                   |                      |
|     26 | Chennai General Post Office             |                      |
|     27 | Udhagamandalam Head Post Office         |                      |
|     28 | Nagapattinam Head Post Office           | Tamil Nadu           |
|     29 | Return Letter Office (RLO), Kolkata     |                      |
|     30 | Darjeeling Head Post Office             |                      |
|     31 | Cooch Behar Post Office                 |                      |
|     32 | Kolkata General Post Office             |                      |
|     33 | Baruipur Head Post Office               |                      |
|     34 | Behrampur Head Post Office              |                      |
|     35 | Alipore Head Post Office                |                      |
|     36 | Diamond Harbour Head Post Office        | West Bengal          |

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN PART (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 204 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME.

## Estates Management Scheme

## Title of the Scheme

Scheme of Estates Management

## Sponsoring Agency (Ministry/Department/Autonomous Body or Undertaking)

Ministry of Communications/Department of Posts

## Total Cost of the Scheme

Rs. 243.5 crores (for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20)

## Proposed duration of the Scheme

This  Scheme  is  continued  beyond  the  12 th   Five  Year  Plan  as  Estates  Management  involves infrastructure management of the Department of Posts from the time of its inception and has to be a continuous process. There is no change in the core objectives of the Scheme as it moves beyond the 12 th  Five Year Plan

The  proposed  duration  of  this  continuing  Scheme  is  2017-18  to  2019-20,  to  align  with  the remaining duration of the 14 th  Finance Commission. However, as this Scheme relates to Estates Management,  it  will  need  to  continue  beyond  2019-20,  after  evaluation  as  laid  down  by  the Ministry of Finance.

## Nature of the Scheme: Central Sector Scheme/Centrally Sponsored Scheme

Central Sector Scheme

## Components of the Scheme

Expenditure  Finance  Committee  (EFC)  has  recommended  Rs.  243.5  crore  for  Estates Management Scheme for the period 2017-2020 and same has been approved by the competent authority. The year -wise outlay is as under:

| Year            |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   Total |
|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
| Outlay (Rs cr.) |      73.5 |        81 |        89 |   243.5 |

The details of the components of the Scheme for the period 2017-18 and 2018-19 and sanctions are as follows:

| Rs. in crore   | Rs. in crore                                                                | Rs. in crore   | Rs. in crore   |
|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
| S. No.         | components                                                                  | 2017-18        | 2018-19        |
| 1              | Construction of Postal buildings Post office/Mail office(PO/MO) and related | 56.8           | 42.8           |

|    | activities                                                                                                                                        |       |     |
|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-----|
| 2  | Construction of small Post Offices and Mail Offices                                                                                               | -     | 7.2 |
| 3  | Construction of Administrative Office                                                                                                             | 3.98  | -   |
| 4  | Construction of Staff Quarters                                                                                                                    | 3.53  | -   |
| 5  | Upgradation of the Postal buildings including renovation and other activities such as restoration, Preservation/Conservation of Heritage Building | 7.95  | 28  |
| 6  | Construction of Toilets, Installation of Solar Power Pack, Construction of Rain water harvesting structure under Swachhta Action Plan             | 20    | -   |
| 7  | Purchase of land and office space                                                                                                                 | -     | 5   |
| 8  | Technology Induction, Consultancy and Project Management of Estates                                                                               | 0.24  | 1   |
| 9  | Gender Concerns                                                                                                                                   | 0.54  | 1   |
|    | TOTAL                                                                                                                                             | 93.04 | 85  |

## Aims and objectives of the Scheme

The key objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to  ensure  development  of  an  appropriate  infrastructure  to provide  a  congenial  work  environment  and  improve  the  delivery  of  postal  services  in  a  cost effective  way  for  the  benefit  of  the  customers.  The  Scheme  also  provides  for  residences  to employees of the Department of Posts. This is intended to be achieved through continuous and targeted programmes for infrastructure.

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN PART (c) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 204 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME.

## Details of the Dilapidated Post Office Buildings

|   l. No. | Circle            | Post Office               | Status                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|----------|-------------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh    | Machhlipatnam Post Office |  Built in the year 1974  Got dilapidated due to corrosive action, being close to sea.  Declared beyond repair by Civil Wing in 2010  Taken up reconstruction  Expenditure sanction - Rs.4.14 crore.  Project likely to be completed by 31.10.2018                                                                                                  |
|        2 | Tamilnadu         | Kuzhithurai Post Office   |  Built in the year: 100 years back during the period of Maharaja of Travancore.  Transferred to Department of Posts in 1951.  Got dilapidated due to corrosive action, being close to sea. It had outlived its life.  Taken up reconstruction 2012  Expenditure sanction - Rs.2.11 crore.  New building for Post Office has completed in 8.6.2018. |
|        3 | Maharashtra       | Vishnunagar Post Office   |  Built in the year 1993-94.  Declared dilapidated by Civil Wing in 2013, as it was beyond repair.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|        4 | Maharashtra       | Motilal Nagar Post Office |  The matter of reconstruction is in process.  Built in the year 1985.  Declared embarked as dangerous and not suitable for occupation by Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on 02.09.2014  Post Office shifted to rental building.  Approved for planning, reconstruction under the Scheme.                                                  |
|        5 | Arunachal Pradesh | Daporijo Post Office      |  Built in the year 1996-97.  Got dilapidated, as the building is perpetually water logged in a low lying marshy area rendering it damaged beyond repair and inhabitable.  Taken up for reconstruction  Expenditure sanction - Rs.1.77 crore. on 31.10.2016  Tender in process.                                                                      |

## ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN PART (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 204 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING ESTATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHEME.

## Details of representations received from public representatives and action taken thereon

|   S No. | Name of public representative        | Request made                                          | Action taken/being taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Shri Gajanan Kirtikar, MP(Lok Sabha) | Renovation/Restoration of Mumbai General Post Office. | Mumbai GPO, with an area of approx. 1,89,402 sq. ft., was built in the 1913 as India-Saracenic Style and listed as Grade-I heritage building in the Heritage Regulation for Greater Mumbai 1995. As the building is more than 100 years old, it is in urgent need of restoration. The Heritage buildings' repair and maintenance are undertaken by Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Hence, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with INTACH for supervision of restoration work of Mumbai General Post Office(GPO). The cost of its restoration as estimated by INTACH is Rs. 58.2 crore and INTACH has submitted estimate of Rs. 2.99 crore for phase-I. An amount of Rs 2 Crores has been allotted to Maharashtra Circle for restoration work of Mumbai GPO. |
|       2 | Shri Gajanan Kirtikar, MP(Lok Sabha) | Reconstruction of Motilal Nagar Post Office           | Motilal Nagar Post Office building construction was completed in 1995, on the plot of land of 1003.71 Sq. meters acquired by the Department in 1979. On 02.09.2014, the building was declared as dangerous and non suitable for occupation by Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after a piece of slab in the building collapsed. Hence the premise was vacated and shifted to a nearby rented building. Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai was entrusted with the task of conducting an enquiry to know the cause of deterioration and as per the test report of VJTI that building is in dilapidated condition and beyond repairs as such, it requires reconstruction. The reconstruction of Motilal Nagar Post Office has been approved by the Department.                |

|   3 | Ms. Anupriya Patel MP (Lok Sabha)          | Prevailing bad condition of the building of Post Offices in Mirzapur.        | At present, Mirzapur Divisional Office has been shifted to a newly constructed Departmental building situated in Head Post Office (HPO) Campus. Rs. 30 lakhs has been released for Mirzapur Head Post Office and Chunar Sub Post Office   |
|-----|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   4 | Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, MP (Lok Sabha) | Dilapidated condition of the building of Vishnunagar Post Office, Dombivili. | The Post Office has been vacated as it cannot be renovated. The matter for approval of reconstruction of Vishnunagar Post Office is in process.                                                                                           |

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