New Delhi - Indian Railways is set to expand its parcel logistics services with the launch of a door-to-door parcel delivery facility in eight major Indian cities, following a successful pilot run. The service, branded Rail Parcel App – Ghar se GharTak, will enable customers to book parcel pickups and deliveries from their doorstep, while Indian Railways will provide transportation between railway stations.
The service will initially cover Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune. The initiative aims to make rail-based parcel transportation more accessible to individual customers and businesses by integrating railway freight services with first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery.
Under the proposed operating model, selected logistics service providers will collect consignments from customers and deliver them to their final destinations. Indian Railways will handle the middle-mile transportation between designated railway stations. Logistics partners may also provide packaging and other value-added services, offering customers an integrated parcel logistics solution.
The Rail Parcel App will function as a digital marketplace connecting customers with approved logistics service providers. Customers will be able to book consignments and make payments online, eliminating the need to transport parcels to railway premises or complete conventional booking formalities at stations.
According to a senior railway official quoted by The Economic Times, the booking window will open 15 days before the scheduled departure of the train carrying the consignment. Customers will be able to book shipments up to one day before departure, while logistics partners can hand over consignments to railway staff up to one hour before the train leaves.
The digital platform is expected to simplify the booking process and improve the integration of collection, railway transportation and final delivery. By combining the railway network with private logistics providers, the service seeks to extend the reach of rail-based parcel transportation beyond traditional station-to-station operations.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and Daily Shipping Times is not responsible for any errors in the same.
You cannot copy content of this page
