The Hellenic Post (ELTA) is rolling out a major restructuring. They’re shutting down over 200 branches that just don’t see much business these days.
This move is really about adapting to modern life. Fewer physical locations, more focus on digital options—it’s the direction things are heading, like it or not.
ELTA isn’t just closing branches, though. They want to give postal workers a bigger role, especially by having them deliver more stuff right to people’s homes.
It’s a shift that’s supposed to help people in remote spots and those who need a bit more personalized service. I guess it’s about making things more efficient, but it’s also about not leaving folks behind.
Key Takeaways
- Over 200 post office branches are closing because they don’t get enough traffic.
- Postal workers will do more home deliveries and take on extra duties.
- Digital services are getting a push to bring ELTA up to speed with the times.
ELTA is trimming its network by closing 204 branches where business is slow. They say it’ll help keep the organization sustainable and, hopefully, a bit more modern.
Even with some branches gone, ELTA plans to keep services running through home visits and mobile units. The idea is to look after people better, especially older folks and those tucked away in remote villages.
Branch transactions now make up less than 10% of total income, but they eat up more than half the costs. By cutting these expensive, underused locations, ELTA hopes to put more money into things that are actually growing—courier, e-commerce, business services, that sort of thing.
Postal deliveries aren’t stopping just because some locations are closing. ELTA’s network includes about 1,400 postal workers, 500 partners, 400 courier agents, and rural distributors. They’re out there with digital tools, working through all sorts of cooperating points to keep things running smoothly.
Since joining a national investment fund in 2017, ELTA has stuck with its universal service promise. They still deliver even in the most far-off places. The postman—kind of a classic figure, honestly—remains central, just now with better tech and gear.
Most postal workers have digital equipment these days. Rural carriers and digital postmen can handle a bunch of services right there on the spot, so people don’t have to trek to a branch anymore.
Key points of the current transformation include:
- They’re closing branches that barely see any business.
- Resources are shifting toward courier, e-commerce, and other growing areas.
- ELTA keeps up universal service by using a wide delivery network.
- Frontline staff get digital tools to work more efficiently.
- Mobile units and home visits help people in hard-to-reach areas stay connected.
Aspect | Current Approach | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
Branch Network | Closure of low-use branches | Reduced costs, better allocation |
Service Delivery | Via postmen, partners, digital technology | Broader reach, improved access |
Investment Focus | Courier, e-commerce, business services | Growth and modernisation |
Customer Support | Mobile units, home appointments | Convenience, inclusive service |
Anger in Ierapetra, Makry Gialos and Paleochora over ELTA Closures
The plan to shut down ELTA branches in Ierapetra, Makry Gialos and also in the West in Paleochora has people fired up. Local residents and officials aren’t happy, and you can’t really blame them—these are the biggest towns in Lasithi, and losing public services stings.
The closures hit older folks and those in out-of-the-way mountain villages the hardest. They depend on the post office to get their pensions and important mail, usually brought right to their door once a month.
With the branches closing, these residents are left wondering how they’ll get their mail and payments. It’s not like there are a ton of alternatives out there.
This isn’t the first time the area has lost public services. Over the years, the Ierapetra hospital has been downgraded, the tax office closed, and educational and social security offices have either reduced their hours or shut entirely.
Other places—like electricity provider offices and courts—have also pulled out or scaled back.
Service Affected | Impact Area | Effect on Community |
|---|---|---|
ELTA branches | Ierapetra, Makry Gialos | Loss of local postal services, hardship for elderly and remote residents |
Ierapetra Hospital | Ierapetra | Downgraded healthcare provision |
Tax Office (DOY) | Ierapetra | Closure, reduced access for taxpayers |
Education and Advertising Department | Former TEI of Crete | Closure, loss of educational support |
EFKA (Social Security) | Ierapetra area | Reduced operations |
DEH (Electricity Provider Offices) | Ierapetra | Closure, inconvenience for utility matters |
Courts | Ierapetra | Closure, legal access difficulties |
Local officials are sounding the alarm about what all these cuts mean for the area’s future. Ierapetra’s growing in tourism and agriculture, but losing key services could make life tougher and even push people to leave.
A former ELTA director from the region points out that shutting these branches ignores what rural people actually need. The post office is more than just a way to get mail; for pensioners and people who can’t get around easily, it’s a lifeline.
People across the whole municipality—not just in town—are worried. They see these closures as another step in a long line of public amenities disappearing, and they’re concerned about the social and economic fallout.
Closure of the Neapoli Post Office
The Neapoli post office is closing, and honestly, it feels like a gut punch for the town and the Upper Merambelo area. This place has been around for ages, serving as a hub for people, businesses, and public services—kind of the glue that keeps things running smoothly here.
Hundreds of folks count on it every day for mail, paperwork, and all sorts of essential tasks. Now, with the doors shutting, that daily routine is about to get a lot more complicated.
The staff list isn’t long: one permanent worker, three on contract, and someone there for social service. They’ll all get reassigned elsewhere in the postal network.
Sure, moving them makes sense on paper, but it leaves a lot of locals wondering how they’ll manage without easy access to these services. It’s just not the same as having a familiar face right down the street.
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Rural and regional areas keep losing crucial services, and it’s starting to wear people down. The courts, the Metropolis of Petra and Chersonisos, the detention centre—plus businesses and older residents—really lean on this post office.
People here aren’t taking it lightly. There’s a lot of talk about protests and pushback, which just shows how much everyone depends on this place.
It’s not just about sending a letter—it’s about keeping the community connected and the wheels turning. When another thread gets pulled, you start to wonder how much more the fabric can take.
Political voices have jumped in, too. One critic didn’t mince words, calling this part of a bigger trend that chips away at regional balance.
He’s worried (rightly, I think) that moves like this threaten the stability of small towns and make it even harder to keep rural life going. It’s hard to disagree when you see the pattern repeating.
There’s a sense that government decisions keep drifting toward centralization, and honestly, it’s not doing these towns any favors. Every time a service disappears, the gap between city and countryside gets a little wider.
Key Points:
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Location | Neapoli, historical seat of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos |
Duration of Operation | Several decades |
Staff Affected | 1 permanent, 3 contract, 1 social service worker |
Services Impacted | Postal services, court communications, local businesses, elderly |
Community Response | Concern and plans for public protests |
Political Viewpoint | Seen as part of broader rural service cuts, harming local cohesion |
