As we are celebrating our country`s 70th Independence Day today, we have also to remember that this was the date when India’s Postal PIN (Postal Index Number) code, a 6-digit number, was introduced in the year 1972.
Before adopting PIN Code, the city’s various localities were identified by the respective Post Office Numbers in that locality.
Thus, Madras GPO (Madras General Post Office) was location was known as Madras-1. Anna Salai was marked as Madras-2. Park Town Area was marked as Madras-3. Mylapore area was marked as Madras-4. Triplicane Area was marked as Madras-5. The numbers were given accordingly to each ;locality. This system was followed in other large cities like Mumbai and Kolkata.
In the earlier period, the posts to the place of postal address was routed as VIA the nearest larger locality. For example, a post sent to Palghat was marked as VIA Coimbatore. Posts addressed to Theni was marked VIA Dindigul.
However, this system could answer only for the large cities. Also, it was rather difficult to deliver posts to places with identical names. So, there was a delay in delivering posts.
In order to solve these issues, and also to speed up the postal delivery system, and to ensure that they reach the right address, India Post introduced the new system, PINCODE on 15th August 1972.