Rangpo post office could be soon declared as a heritage postal building

Prabin Khaling, KalimNews, Gangtok, July 4: The second oldest post office in Sikkim, the Rangpo post office could be soon declared as a heritage postal building by the Union government following a field visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information & Technology.

A 12-member Parliamentary committee led by its chairman MP Achuthan today inspected the wooden post office at Rangpo bazaar, 41 kms away from Gangtok. The team was briefed about the heritage value of the Rangpo post office by Sikkim Lok Sabha member PD Rai.

Rai is also a member of the standing committee on Information & Technology.

“The Rangpo post office has been extending good services to the people. Generally people are satisfied with its services. It is a heritage building in Sikkim and once it is declared as a heritage building, its architecture will be maintained in its original form”, said Achuthan to reporters after inspecting the Rangpo post office and the telephone exchange which is also in the same around 1 acre complex.

Achuthan told media that the Parliamentary committee will be in Sikkim till July 7 for take an overview of the postal and telecommunication services in the border State. The team will also be visiting the Nathu La border to take stock of the telecommunication services being enjoyed by the defense personnel and local population. The committee will be interacting with the State government to get their feedback on the status of postal and telecommunication services in Sikkim during their tour.

The team is accompanied by senior officials from BSNL and Postal Services.

“One of the objectives of the committee’s visit is to inspect the heritage value of Rangpo post office. It will be made as a heritage building by the Ministry concerned and things are under process for the status declaration. It will be in line with the tourism thrust of the Sikkim government. There are already several post office buildings which have been given heritage status”, said Rai.

Rangpo is the main entry point to Sikkim and since its establishment in 1927, the office has witnessed the history of Sikkim especially the border trade with Tibet. Sikkim, at that time, was under a monarchy and the postal services under the British ruled India had set up the post office at Rangpo.

Though the first post office in Sikkim was established at Rhenock in East Sikkim near Kalimpong town in North Bengal, Rai was of the view that Rangpo post office should be first given the heritage status due to Rangpo being the main entry point to Sikkim.

“When it was established in 1927, lot of trade was taking place. The whole history of Sikkim can be interpreted through this post office. Once it is declared as heritage post office, tourists coming to Sikkim through Rangpo will love to visit it and take photographs. There will also lot of development in the post office at Rangpo. We will then make a pitch for Rhenock post office once Rangpo get the heritage status”, said the Sikkim Lok Sabha member.

According to the present staff members, the Rangpo post office when it was established had only 2-3 employees giving postal services in Rangpo town and adjoining areas. There are presently five staff and the scope of Rangpo postal services have expanded to international money transfer, speed post and making payments of MG NREGA and old age pension. It caters to the local population in Rangpo side of Sikkim and also the Rangpo side of West Bengal.