Dakshina Kannada Philatelic Association : Hampankatta Post Office

The first post office for the entire Canara District was started in Mangalore in 1858. The next oldest Post Office was the Mangalore Bunder Post Office. Letterboxes at important places in Mangalore were planted in 1885. The Hampankatta Post Office was established in March 1982 at the heart of Mangalore's business area to cater to the needs of Corporate Bodies, Business Houses, Medical Colleges and Financial Institutions.

The Hampankatta post office looked like any other in India, crowded, full of furniture, almirahs, huge sorting cases and a huge stamping table. Poor lighting conditions and ugly hanging wires made the post office a typical example of the many you find in India.

( Click here to see the Old Post Office Photos )

The New Millennium changed all this. The Post Office was renovated and modrenised with a New Year New Look. People flocked to the post office to see the changed atmosphere. The Post Office was inaugurated on January 11, 2000 though it opened much earlier. The modernization of the PO was a collective effort of Smt. KNK Karthiayani, PMG SK Region, Shri K Prakash, SSP and his staff, an unique experiment in motivation. Frequent meetings and brain storming sessions during the conceptualization and execution phase resulted in the new look seen in the photographs below. The staff visited banks and movie studios to study the interiors there. The ideas like false ceiling, task lighting, air conditioning and piped music which make you feel that you have entered a hotel reception are the result of this study.

The customer is greeted by the staff without the usual glass barrier between them. This is the "Give and Take Approach" adopted by the Post Office and welcomed by both the customers and the staff. The computerization of the counters and the separation of the stamp vending counters from others have reduced unnecessary crowding at the counters. The colourful lighted posters, air conditioning, potted plants, comfortable seating, piped soft music and writing facility make waiting for the service a cool pleasant experience.

A staff of 20 headed by Shri K Nagesh Prabhu as the Post Master forms a smiling, ever helpful group, happy to be at your service.

	A battery of Post Boxes silently greet the passer-by. They look like long lost friends standing by the road side with their arms around the other's shoulder.
The huge board proclaims the Philatelic Counter and announces the Deposit Account for philatelists at the entrance.
	This is the stamp and franking counter. It does look like a hotel reception doesn't it?
The computerized counters await the customers. Speed post, Hybrid mail, Banking, Satellite Money Orders and Service with a smile.
	A close up of the counters. A real cool conditioned place !!
Stamps Franking and Posters !!
	A busy day at the post office. An uniformed insiders view.