Indian Railways to launch door-to-door parcel delivery: What you need to know about 'Ghar Se Ghar Tak'

NEW DELHI: Sending parcels by train will soon become easier, with Indian Railways planning a door-to-door service that will collect consignments from customers' homes and deliver them to designated destinations.

The 'Rail Parcel App – Ghar Se Ghar Tak' will be available on iOS and Android platforms and through a website. Customers will be able to book the service and make digital payments online. The initiative will initially cover eight cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune – in collaboration with private logistics service providers.

Customers can choose between station-to-station transportation and doorstep pickup and delivery. Under the door-to-door arrangement, logistics partners will collect parcels from the sender's address and deliver them to the recipient, while Indian Railways will handle transportation between railway stations.

To use the service, customers must register on the app or website and obtain a user ID. They can then select a logistics provider, enter the sender's and recipient's addresses and provide the required parcel details. Railway freight and logistics charges will be displayed separately. Payments can be made through UPI, debit and credit cards, net banking and other authorised digital payment methods. Customers will also be able to track their parcels and receive updates on their registered mobile numbers, while OTP-based verification will be used during parcel handover and delivery.

Bookings can be made up to 15 days before a train's departure and as late as one day before departure, subject to space availability. Logistics providers must hand over parcels at the originating railway station between 12 hours and one hour before the train's scheduled departure. They may also offer additional services, including parcel packing and doorstep collection and delivery. Digital receipts will be issued for bookings, while applicable refunds will be governed by the prescribed conditions and the respective logistics providers' policies.

Hazardous, inflammable and explosive materials, contraband and other items prohibited under railway regulations and applicable laws will not be accepted.

The app is currently under development, and the implementation date will be announced after the necessary testing is completed.