150 post offices in Kerala to be shut; Changes in PIN Code raise public concern

Palakkad, Kerala: The closure of post offices and the resulting changes in PIN codes are causing concern among the public in Kerala.

The closures are part of the Union government’s restructuring policy following amendments to the Postal Act. Officials maintain that rationalisation is aimed at opening post offices in areas where none existed before and ensuring better access to services.

Under the policy, post offices may be relocated if more than one exists within a 2-kilometre radius in urban areas or a 5-kilometre radius in rural areas

150 post offices on closure list

Across the state, 36 post offices have already been closed. More than 150 post offices figure on the first phase of the closure list. In the Palakkad division, Ambikapuram and Thathamangalam South post offices were closed on September 19, 2025. Steps have also been initiated to shut sub-post offices at Palakkad College, Sekharipuram, Chittur College and Thekkegramam, as well as branch offices at Puthur, New Kalpathy, Moothanthara, Noorani Agraharam, Chenthamara Nagar and Chittur Court.

In Palakkad, a total of eight post offices have been closed so far — three under the Palakkad division and five under the Ottapalam division. In the next phase, ten post offices in the Palakkad division and two in the Ottapalam division have been listed.

Residents falling under the jurisdiction of post offices slated for closure will be required to update the PIN codes on their identity documents.

Officials claim non-profitability reasons

Authorities have also indicated that unprofitable post offices are being targeted for closure. However, there are allegations that even profitable post offices have been included in the list. Protests against the closure of post offices have intensified under the leadership of various postal employees’ organisations.

Palakkad postal department officials have said that no instructions have yet been received regarding changes to PIN codes and that there is still no clarity on the final closure list.

Why the concerns about PIN codes?

PIN codes are mandatory on key documents such as Aadhaar cards, passports and voter ID cards, as an address is considered complete only when a PIN code is included. With changes to PIN codes, people fear that their existing addresses may effectively become invalid.

There are complaints that postal authorities have not issued any clear guidelines on what the public should do regarding PIN codes when post offices are relocated or closed.

Officials say that PIN codes do not need to be changed if only non-delivery post offices or branch post offices are closed. Non-delivery post offices are those that do not provide postman services. Branch post offices function under sub-post offices and do not have independent PIN codes. However, if other categories of post offices are shut down, changes to PIN codes will be unavoidable.