The Railways will soon introduce a service for parcel booking and delivery from the comfort of your home. In the initial phase, eight cities, including Delhi, will be covered. Bookings can be made up to 15 days before the train's departure. A cancellation fee of ₹10 will be charged.

Indian Railways is preparing to simplify the process of sending parcels. Under this new initiative, people will no longer need to make trips to the railway station to ship goods. The plan includes a service to pick up parcels from your home and deliver them to the specified destination. This will benefit individual customers, as well as small business owners and online sellers.

In the initial phase, this scheme will be implemented in eight major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune. Once the scheme proves successful and the necessary preparations are complete, it may be expanded to other cities.

This initiative by the Railways will assist small traders and online businesses in delivering their products to customers. Customers will be able to book shipments and make payments online via a mobile app.

Parcel booking from the comfort of your home

Under this system, customers can book parcels using a mobile app. Once booked, the items will be picked up from the customer's home and transported to the railway station. From there, the Railways will carry the parcel to the destination city. Upon arrival, a logistics company will handle the final delivery to the recipient's address.

The objective of this service is to make the parcel-shipping process more convenient—offering relief, in particular, to those who previously had to visit the railway station in person to send goods.

What is the charge for cancelling a booking?

If a customer decides not to proceed with a shipment and wishes to cancel their booking, they are eligible for a refund of their payment. However, a cancellation fee of ₹10 will be deducted. Meanwhile, the refund policy for charges related to doorstep pickup and final-destination delivery will be determined by the respective logistics company’s terms and conditions.

Railways and logistics companies to work in tandem

In this entire system, logistics companies will play a crucial role alongside the Railways. The Railways will transport parcels from one city to another, while the logistics companies will handle the responsibility of picking up items from the sender's location and delivering them to the final destination.

If implemented effectively, this service could make sending parcels significantly easier than before. It will save time for customers and provide small business owners with an additional option to reach customers in distant locations.

Booking to open 15 days before train departure

Under this system, parcel bookings can be made up to 15 days before the scheduled departure of the train. This means customers will not have to wait until the last minute and can plan the delivery of their goods well in advance.

According to Railway regulations, items such as bikes, cars, furniture, household appliances, and commercial goods can also be shipped as parcels. However, it is essential to review the relevant terms and conditions before booking any items.