General Post Office (Mumbai)
The General Post Office, Mumbai, is the central post office of the city of Mumbai, India. The post-office handles most of the city's inbound and outbound mail and parcels. Situated in the vicinity of Victoria Terminus, this outstanding structure is a paradigm of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
The building
The general post office is modelled on the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, Karnataka. It was designed by British architect John Begg, a consultant architect to the British government. Begg designed the structure in 1902, and construction began on 1 September 1904. It was completed on 13 March 1913 at a cost of ₨ 1,809,000. Black basalt, with a dressing of yellow Kurla stone and white stones from Dhrangdra are the predominant materials used.[1]
The building has an area of 120,000 square feet (11,000 m²) and replaced the current Central Telegraph Office at Flora Fountain as the new GPO. The chief feature of the architecture of this building is an ethereal central hall which rises up to the great dome.
Operations
As the chief post office of the city, the post office handles huge volumes of mail and passes them on to other post offices in the city. The GPO has the Postal Index Number (PIN) 400 001. Due to its vicinity to Victoria Terminus, it is ideally situated to dispatch and receive mail to and from other cities in India. It also controls the smaller post offices in Mumbai, issues stamps, and prints new inland letterheads and postcards. It also has a philately section for enthusiasts.
Roll of Honour Board displayed
The Great War of 1914-18 details are displayed on the marble plaque.
GPO construction plaque
This plaque indicates the date of completion of the building in 1913. The total cost was Rs.18,09,000 Rupees.
References
- ↑ "Mumbai GPO building turns 100". Deccan Herald. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
See also
External links
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