<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Indian Railways is preparing to launch a door-to-door parcel delivery service across eight major cities, extending its parcel business beyond station-to-station movement into the first and last mile through a network of logistics partners </span><span class="">. The service, branded "Ghar Se Ghar Tak," will initially be available in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune, according to officials cited by ET Infra and NDTV </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="1" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railways/railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-services/135249454?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etinfra_news_2026-10-28_versionA&dt=2026-10-28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/indian-railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-delivery-service-in-8-cities-12258482?pfrom=home-ndtv_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="9" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The operating model divides responsibilities between the railway system and private logistics providers. Logistics partners will handle doorstep pickup from customers and final delivery to recipients, while Indian Railways will transport consignments between stations on its scheduled trains </span><span class="">. Partners may also offer packaging and other value-added services, creating a layered service offering that goes beyond pure transportation.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="5" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railways/railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-services/135249454?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etinfra_news_2026-10-28_versionA&dt=2026-10-28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The booking mechanics are designed for digital convenience. The Rail Parcel App will function as a marketplace connecting customers with selected logistics providers, allowing bookings and payments to be completed online without the need to visit railway premises or complete conventional paperwork </span><span class="">. Customers can book parcels up to 15 days in advance or as late as one day before the scheduled train departure, and logistics partners can hand over consignments to railway staff up to an hour before departure </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="6" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railways/railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-services/135249454?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etinfra_news_2026-10-28_versionA&dt=2026-10-28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/indian-railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-delivery-service-in-8-cities-12258482?pfrom=home-ndtv_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="9" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The app includes several features aimed at transparency and security. Each booking will receive a unique 10-digit Progressive Reference Record number for tracking, and the platform will provide digital GST invoices and live tracking updates </span><span class="">. Deliveries will be verified through a one-time password system, and payments can be made via UPI, credit cards, debit cards, or net banking </span><span class="">. These features are standard for e-commerce logistics but represent a significant upgrade from the traditional railway parcel experience.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="9" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/indian-railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-delivery-service-in-8-cities-12258482?pfrom=home-ndtv_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="9" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Refund terms are structured to protect customers against cancellations before pickup. Indian Railways will offer a full refund of rail freight if a booking is cancelled before the consignment is picked up, after deducting a clerkage charge of ₹10 </span><span class="">. Refunds for first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery will be governed by the logistics providers' respective policies, and these terms will be communicated at the time of booking </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="11" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railways/railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-services/135249454?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etinfra_news_2026-10-28_versionA&dt=2026-10-28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">For Indian Railways, the initiative represents an effort to capture a share of the growing parcel and e-commerce logistics market that has largely bypassed the rail network. The railways have historically handled bulk parcel traffic through station-based booking and handling, but the door-to-door model directly competes with road-based couriers and logistics aggregators that offer end-to-end service. The pilot run's success, according to officials, provided the confidence to proceed with the eight-city rollout </span><span class="">.</span><span class="_5f9bba8" data-citation-group="13" style="margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 2px;"><a href="https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railways/railways-to-launch-door-to-door-parcel-services/135249454?utm_source=Mailer&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=etinfra_news_2026-10-28_versionA&dt=2026-10-28" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" aria-label="1" style="color: rgb(57, 100, 254); transition: box-shadow 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1); border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border-width: 2px 3px; margin-left: -3px; margin-right: -3px; text-decoration: none; position: relative;"></a></span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The service also aligns with broader government objectives of increasing rail's share of freight and reducing logistics costs. Parcels moved by rail have a lower carbon footprint per unit than road transport, and the door-to-door model removes the friction that previously made rail parcel services inconvenient for individual customers and small businesses. If the eight-city rollout succeeds, the model could be extended to additional cities and integrated with the dedicated freight corridor network.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Looking ahead, the success of the service will depend on the reliability of logistics partners, the punctuality of train schedules, and the app's usability for customers who may be unfamiliar with railway booking processes. The pricing structure has not been disclosed, and its competitiveness against established courier services will be a critical factor. For now, the launch marks a significant step in Indian Railways' evolution from a bulk freight carrier into a participant in the fast-growing parcel logistics market.</span></p>
Indian Railways to Launch Door-to-Door Parcel Service in Eight Cities via Rail Parcel App
Indian Railways is set to launch a door-to-door parcel delivery service, branded "Ghar Se Ghar Tak," in eight major cities following a successful pilot run. The Rail Parcel App will allow customers in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune to book doorstep pickup and delivery of parcels transported by rail. Logistics partners will handle first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery while the railways transport consignments between stations. Bookings open 15 days ahead of train departure, with full rail freight refunds available minus a ₹10 clerkage charge if cancelled before pickup.
