Jamshedpur, April 28: Post offices across the state would soon offer services that were so far confined to banks.

Following a nod from the Reserve Bank of India, post offices are gearing up to distribute coins, exchange soiled notes and foreign currency exchange.

Anil Kumar, the director of postal services, Jharkhand circle, told The Telegraph that the head post offices of Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh would introduce this service first.

Coin distribution and exchange of soiled notes would start from May 2.

The exchange of foreign currency would begin after 20 days.

“Only five places would be part of this pilot project. Depending on the success of the project, the service would be extended to other post offices,” said the director of postal services, agreeing that the project took a long time to implement.

Kumar added that the decision to start these services — earlier, confined to banks — was taken during a meeting with RBI officials in Ranchi in February.

“Reserve Bank of India officials recommended that we start the service for the benefit of the masses,” said Kumar.

“The perennial problem of coin shortage can be addressed through the service. And if a person wants to exchange coins through notes, he can do so at post offices directly,” said Kumar.

Moreover, the director of postal services added, the postal department was planning to tie up with the Centurion Bank of Punjab.

“Talks are on with the bank for space sharing. Bank officials would visit post offices at regular intervals and conduct banking operations according to RBI guidelines,” said Kumar.

Officials at the postal department said the new service would help the postal department increase its customers and help RBI increase its distribution centres.