A technical snag in a router at the Sub Post Office, Budgam, has brought several banking services to a standstill for the past 10 days, leaving customers frustrated.
The router reportedly stopped functioning on Monday, August 10. Since then, customers have been unable to make deposits or withdrawals at the facility, forcing many to return empty-handed after waiting for their transactions to be processed.
Customers said around 30 to 40 people visit the post office every day and leave disappointed after being told that the system is not working.
“For the last 10 days, we have been coming here hoping that the problem will be resolved, but nothing has changed,” said Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, a Budgam resident, who has a Fixed Deposit at the post office.
Bhat said the disruption has come at an especially difficult time, with the wedding season underway.
“I had kept the money in a Fixed Deposit and now need it for a family wedding. I cannot withdraw it because the system is not working. How are ordinary people supposed to manage when their own money is stuck?” he said.
Another customer, Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat of Arampora, said the problem was causing difficulties for people who depend entirely on the post office for their financial transactions.
“We are not talking about one or two days. It has been 10 days. Every day people come here, stand around and then go back without getting their work done,” he said.
Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh of Arizal, another customer with a Fixed Deposit, said many people visiting the post office are elderly or have limited knowledge of online banking.
“Some people can transfer money online, but what about those who don’t know how to use these facilities or don’t have bank accounts?” Sheikh questioned.
Customers said those holding Fixed Deposits can access their money only through branch withdrawal, while savings bank account holders may transfer funds online to other bank accounts.
However, for many customers—particularly elderly people and women—the online option is not a practical alternative.
The disruption has also exposed what customers described as the vulnerability of services at government-run financial institutions.
“Imagine a private bank telling its customers that withdrawals and deposits will remain suspended for 10 days because its router is not working. People would not accept it. Yet here, we are being asked to wait indefinitely for a basic piece of equipment to be replaced,” said Bhat.
Another customer said the issue reflected a larger problem of accountability in public services.
“This is people’s hard-earned money. The least we expect is that the department should have a backup system or arrange an immediate replacement when a router fails,” he said.
Officials at the Sub Post Office, Budgam, acknowledged the problem and said it has been brought to the notice of the concerned authorities.
They said a request has been placed with BSNL for replacement of the faulty router.
However, customers said that despite the matter having been reported, there has been no visible resolution on the ground.
The prolonged disruption is particularly distressing for customers who had planned to withdraw their Fixed Deposits for urgent expenses, including weddings.
With 30 to 40 customers reportedly visiting the office each day, the failure has turned what should have been a routine banking service into a daily source of frustration.
Customers have urged the postal authorities and BSNL to resolve the issue immediately and restore normal services at the Budgam post office.
