Government has approved the ‘IT MODERNIZATION PROJECT’ of Department of Posts for computerization of Post Offices, Mail Offices, Administrative Offices and other field offices. This will involve establishment of required IT infrastructure, development of required software applications with an outlay of Rs.1877.2 crore.

This information was given by Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.  The project will establish IT infrastructure of data centre and disaster recovery centre and networking of all departmental post offices including appropriate connectivity in the Branch Post Offices in the rural area. 

The project envisages development of integrated modular scalable applications for Mail, m-Banking, Postal Life Insurance, solutions for Accounts and HR operations of the department.

The rural post offices will be provided with rural ICT devices with required applications for performing Postal, Savings Bank, Insurance, MGNREGS and Money Order operations. Also, provision has been made for training, change management, capacity building of the employees of the department along with project management activity for smooth and timely implementation of the project.

It is planned to network all Departmental Post Offices and Branch Post Offices in the country subject to availability of connectivity and resources under the “India Post Technology Project-2012”.

The departmental Post Offices are proposed to be networked with appropriate connectivity. Branch Post Offices located in rural areas are proposed to be networked using available connectivity at these locations. The rural ICT Devices in the Branch Post Offices will have the capacity to work in both online/offline mode. The IT project is expected to be implemented by 2012-13 subject to the availability of funds.