1 Central Base Post Office

Defence India Postal History

March 1, 2023

1 Central Base Post Office

A commemorative postage stamp on 75 Years of 1 CBPO (56 APO) :

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 1, 2023

Issued for : Department of Posts is honouring APS Corps by issuing Commemorative Postage Stamp on 75 Years of 1 Central Base Post Office & salutes its immense contribution to Armed Forces seamless mail communication.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Shri Brahm Prakash
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 202000 each

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About :

The saga of 1 CBPO (56 APO) began in 1947 when troops were sent to maintain law & order at the east Punjab border and to help in refugee management, the need for an exclusive postal arrangement was felt by the Army. 56 APO came back from Iwakuni, Japan, in 1947 after WWII, it formed the nucleus of what later came to be known as 1 Central Base Post Office (CBPO) and started to function at New Delhi.
1 CBPO acts as the head post office and hub of postal and SDS mail for 259 FPOs/SDOs spread out in Northern, Western, South-Western, Central and Southern Commands. The unit also ensures base censorship. It also serves parliamentary forces acting under the operational control of Army deployed in the Northern and Western borders. It provides service to all the Air Commands except Eastern Air Command and all Naval Commands. It serves the Indian contingents in UN Peace Keeping Forces through five Foreign FPOs.
On 24th Oct 1947, the APO started functioning as the base sorting office, with the designation of New Delhi 56 APO. All FPOs operating in Punjab and J & K were based on it for receipt and despatch of mails as well as maintenance of postal accounts. In early 1948, the prefix “New Delhi” was dropped and it became 56 Base Post Office. The coded address “C/O 56 APO” also came to be used as the security form of address for the troops deployed in sensitive areas and it worked as the nodal point for receipt and dispatch of mails.
In May 1960, the 56 Base Post Office, was renamed as 1 Central Base Post Office when another Central Base Post Office was opened at Calcutta to provide base postal cover to the FPOs of Eastern Command. 1 CBPO shifted to its own Key Location Plan accommodation at Rao Tula Ram Marg in Feb 1977 in an area of forty-eight acres. Army HQ SDS Unit was merged with 1 CBPO on 01 Feb 1987. 1 Postal Tracing Section merged into 1 CBPO in Sep 1973. From 01 Jan 1989, this section has been renamed as Returned Letter Office (RLO). The Philatelic Bureau started functioning as part of the CBPO from 18 July 1970.
The 1 CBPO took the responsibility of supplying Newspapers and periodicals to the troops serving in J & K through FPOs w.e.f. 01 Nov 1966 on a no profit no loss basis. From 01 Apr 1967, this facility was also extended to the troops of Eastern Command.
To maintain the confidentiality of locations of Units, security form of address is used. Units and stations are identified with unique pincodes. In the pincode system of India Post, PIN block “9” is allocated for APS. The keystone of this system of operation is 56 APO / 1 CBPO.
During the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic when restrictions were imposed throughout the country, regular flow of mail communication was maintained by 1 CBPO by implementing mail contingency plan after adhering to all precautionary measures. All endeavours have been made by 1 CBPO being hub of mail operation in Army by exploring all options while adhering to guidelines issued by formation Headquarters (Army) in connection with the pandemic.
Consequent upon stoppage of air and rail services, the only mode left for transmission of mail was road network (only a few Cargo flights and Parcel trains were operating). Mail Contingency Plan activated by 1 CBPO for detailment of Army vehicles and couriers as an essential duty for exchange of mail bags with nodal Field Post Offices. The services of Blue Dart Cargo flights / Air India / Private Airlines flights, Mail Motor Service (MMS) and Road Transport Network (RTN) have been utilised under the aegis of Department of Posts as mode of conveyance for exchange of Army mail bags. In addition, Helicopter Services wherever available under the aegis of formation Headquarters and Indian Air Force aircraft (IL) have also been utilised for the purpose based upon flight availability in northern sector.
During the journey of 75 glorious years of 1 CBPO, it has created many histories and Rajhans is flying with pride and will reach newer heights in the years to come. Hence, it is befitting to commemorate this rich history and devotional work by way of issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp.
Text : Based on information received from the proponent.