A majority of the RMS offices in the state will be shut down and the staff strength reduced as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the Railways.

“Under a move to introduce the Hub system, the mail service activities will be limited to the six Level-1 offices in the state with the Trivandrum RMS office as the main hub,” an official at the Ernakulam office said.

The measure was to be implemented from February 15, but it was temporarily postponed due to practical difficulties.

The move is part of the implementation of the cost-cutting measures suggested by the McKinsey Consultants following a study and this is being implemented across the country.

For Malabar region, the Kozhikode RMS will function and the Kasargode, Kannur, Vadakara and Thalassery ones will be closed down.

Similarly, the ‘Cochin Sorting Air’ near Shenayis theatre will handle all the activities in Ernakulam South office, Aluva and Alappuzha.

The Thrissur RMS office will handle the work of four other offices and Thiruvalla two. The Kottayam office will deal with the mail services of Chenganassery and Thodupuzha.

According to the official, the development will heavily burden the six centres which will result in a delay in receiving bulk materials. “In addition, there is a move to prune the staff with the shutting down of the offices.”