In order to compete with the private courier players, the department of posts (DoP) has reduced rates of its speed post services by up to 40 per cent. Rates for a packet of up to 50 grams has been reduced to Rs 12 from Rs 20 earlier. This includes service tax and education cess and has come into effect from today.With this revision, Speed Post will be quite competitive in the express industry, John Samuel, general manager in the Department of Posts, told reporters here. There has been some increase in the weight slabs above 50 grams, he added.Speed Post articles booked in and destined for Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad will be treated as ‘local’ for the purposes of Speed Post tariff, he said. The articles meant for the same town will be delivered by Post, which currently has a market share of 27 per cent and posted a revenue of Rs 449 crore during 2006-07, he said.
