<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> A semaphore "telegraph" signalling tower in Silwar (Bihar), 13 February 1823, thirty years before electric telegraphy was rapidly introduced into India by the East India Company . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> A semaphore "telegraph" signalling tower in Silwar (Bihar), 13 February 1823, thirty years before electric telegraphy was rapidly introduced into India by the East India Company . </Td> </Tr> <P> Before 1837, the East India Company's dominions in India had no universal public postal service, one that was shared by all regions . Although courier services did exist, connecting the more important towns with their respective seats of provincial government (i.e. the Presidency towns of Fort William (Calcutta), Fort St. George (Madras), and Bombay), private individuals were, upon payment, only sparingly allowed their use . That situation changed in 1837, when, by Act XVII of that year, a public post, run by the Company's Government, was established in the Company's territory in India . Post offices were established in the principal towns and postmasters appointed . The postmasters of the Presidency towns oversaw a few provincial post offices in addition to being responsible for the main postal services between the provinces . By contrast, the District collectors (originally, collectors of land - tax) directed the District post offices, including their local postal services . Postal services required payment in cash, to be made in advance, with the amount charged usually varying with weight and distance . For example, the charge of sending a letter from Calcutta to Bombay was one rupee; however, that from Calcutta to Agra was 12 annas (or three - quarter of a rupee) for each tola (three - eighths of an ounce). </P> <P> After the recommendations of the commission appointed in 1850 to evaluate the Indian postal system were received, Act XVII of 1837 was superseded by the Indian Postal Act of 1854 . Under its provisions, the entire postal department was headed by a Director - General, and the duties of a Postmaster - General were set apart from those of a Presidency Postmaster; the former administered the postal system of the larger provinces (such as the Bombay Presidency or the North - Western Provinces), whereas the latter attended to the less important Provinces (such as Ajmer - Merwara and the major Political Agencies such as Rajputana). Postage stamps were introduced at this time and the postal rates fixed by weight, dependent no longer also on the distance travelled in the delivery . The lowest inland letter rate was half anna for 1 / 4 tola, followed by one anna for 1 / 2 tola, and 2 annas for a tola, a great reduction from the rates of 17 years before . The Indian Post Office delivered letters, newspapers, postcards, book packets, and parcels . These deliveries grew steadily in number; by 1861 (three years after the end of Company rule), a total of 889 post offices had been opened, and almost 43 million letters and over four and a half million newspapers were being delivered annually . </P>

In which of the following places was the first telegraph line of india set up