Indian Railways Launches Door-to-Door Parcel Service in 8 Cities
Indian Railways introduces the 'Ghar se Ghar Tak' app for home pickup and delivery of parcels in 8 major cities.
Tired of the heavy lifting and station visits for your shipments? Indian Railways has officially unveiled its revolutionary 'Rail Parcel App – Ghar se Ghar Tak' service. This new door-to-door parcel service is designed to bring logistics directly to your doorstep, making it easier than ever for small traders, farmers, and e-commerce sellers to move goods.
How the 'Ghar se Ghar Tak' Service Works
The service operates through a highly organized three-stage logistics model to ensure your parcels reach their destination safely and efficiently:
- First-Mile Collection: Approved logistics partners will pick up your parcel directly from your specified location.
- Middle-Mile Transportation: Indian Railways handles the core transportation of the goods via the rail network.
- Last-Mile Delivery: Logistics partners complete the journey by delivering the parcel to the final recipient.
This digital marketplace connects users directly with approved service providers, who also offer value-added services such as professional packaging.
Eight Cities Included in the Initial Rollout
To kickstart this initiative, the service is being rolled out in eight major Indian cities. The initial phase covers:
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Ahmedabad
- Hyderabad
- Bengaluru
- Pune
Booking Process and Important Timelines
Customers can access the service via a dedicated mobile application available on both Android and iOS platforms, or through the official website. To begin, users must register with a mobile number and provide necessary parcel details, including the departure and destination stations.
Please keep the following scheduling rules in mind:
- Booking Window: Bookings open 15 days before a train's scheduled departure and close exactly one day before.
- Handover Rule: Logistics partners must hand over all consignments to railway staff no later than one hour before the train departs.
Refund Policies and Safety Restrictions
Indian Railways has established a clear policy regarding cancellations. If a booking is canceled before the parcel has been picked up, the user will receive a full refund of the rail freight, minus a ₹10 clerkage charge. However, please note that refunds for the first-mile and last-mile portions of the journey are handled independently by the logistics providers and will be communicated during the booking process.
Strict Safety Warning: It is strictly prohibited to book flammable, explosive, or any other restricted items through this service.
This launch, timed to align with the festive season, follows the Railway Board's recent introduction of discounted round-trip bookings for parcel coaches. The initiative aims to provide an affordable, transparent, and environmentally friendly transportation solution for the general public and businesses alike.