Indian Railways plans door-to-door parcels in 8 cities: what you need to know

Sending a parcel by train could soon mean never going to the station. The Ministry of Railways is developing the 'Rail Parcel App – Ghar Se Ghar Tak' for iOS, Android and the web. The Railway Board says it will start in eight cities, though the launch date isn't set yet. Here's how it will work.

1. Eight cities to start with

The first cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune. The start date will be shared with zonal railways after test runs by CRIS (the Railways' IT arm).

2. Pickup and delivery by logistics partners

Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) will handle first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery. If you choose both, the same LSP must do both.

3. Register with your mobile number

You'll need a user ID with a valid mobile number. You'll also give bank details to the LSP for refunds, and accept its refund policy for pickup and delivery charges.

4. Book up to 15 days ahead

Bookings must be made at least one day before the parcel train departs, and depend on space. The LSP must hand your parcel to railway staff between 12 hours and one hour before departure.

5. Paperless paperwork

Your booking acts as the digital forwarding note, and the e-way bill undertaking is recorded digitally. An e-way bill may still be needed for pickup and delivery, depending on GST rules.

6. Packing and banned items

Parcels must be properly packed. Hazardous, explosive, flammable and contraband goods are not accepted. Some goods need special packaging, which the LSP must provide. For other items, you can pack yourself or pay the LSP to do it.

7. How charges are worked out

Prices depend on train category, distance, weight and size. The app shows Railway charges and LSP charges separately. Transshipment on the way costs extra. Optional insurance covers only the rail leg.

8. One payment, two GST invoices

You pay once through UPI, cards or net banking. Indian Railways and the LSP each issue their own GST invoice.

9. Tracking and OTP checks

You can track your parcel in the app and get automatic notifications. An OTP is needed at collection and delivery. Without doorstep delivery, collect within the free time to avoid wharfage (storage) charges.

If it works as described, sending a parcel by rail could finally feel as easy as ordering online.