Patna: Sending parcels abroad from Bihar is set to become significantly easier, with the state’s postal department preparing to roll out international trade units across approximately 9,000 post offices by April.
The Bihar Circle of India Post said the new International Trade Units will operate across its 29 head offices, extending overseas parcel services to the district level. The initiative is designed to streamline the booking, scrutiny and customs clearance of international consignments, reducing delays and administrative bottlenecks.
Until now, customers in Bihar have largely depended on facilities in Patna, Delhi or Kolkata to send parcels abroad. Formal procedures, including scrutiny and customs checks, were handled in these major cities, often leading to delays. In some cases, senders were informed of rejected consignments only days later.
Under the new system, foreign parcel processing will be completed within the respective districts. Any issues, including customs objections or documentation gaps, are expected to be flagged immediately, enabling faster resolution.
M Abdali, the chief postmaster general of the Bihar Circle, said an International Business Unit would be established in every division. He said this would improve monitoring of outbound international parcels and accelerate customs clearance.
Separate teams will be formed to manage the new units at every level, from branch post offices to head offices. Four dedicated counters will be set up for booking foreign parcels, with additional counters to be introduced in areas where demand is higher. Officials say this will help reduce congestion and shorten waiting times.
The department is also upgrading its parcel packaging infrastructure. The packaging unit in Patna has been modernised, and officials claim that consignments are no longer held at a single point for more than an hour before being forwarded.
With demand for international shipping rising among business owners, students and migrant families, postal authorities say the expansion could offer significant relief by making overseas deliveries faster and more accessible across the state.
