With the aim of improving the efficiency of mail delivery in remote and mountainous regions, the Department of Posts (DoP) has initiated a proof of concept (PoC) for the transmission of mail via drone in Arunachal Pradesh.
The PoC, conducted on October 21, involved the transport of mail between Chowkham Post Office (PO) in Namsai district and Wakro Branch Post Office (BO) in Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh.
According to the DoP, the drone flight took off from Chowkham PO at 10:40 AM and landed at Wakro BO at 11:02 AM. The return journey was completed between 11:44 AM and 12:08 PM, significantly reducing the delivery time.
Traditionally, mail delivery between these locations, which are 45 km apart, takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours using bus services of the Arunachal Pradesh State Transport. The drone delivery reduced the travel time to about 22-24 minutes, demonstrating the potential of this technology to enhance delivery efficiency in such challenging terrains, the statement said.
The DoP stressed that using drones could not only cut down delivery times but also provide real-time tracking capabilities and improved reliability in mail transmission, particularly in difficult-to-access areas.
Upon successful completion of this PoC, which is being done in collaboration with Gurugram-based drone company Sky Air Mobility, the Department said it plans to expand drone-based mail delivery to other remote and hilly areas of the country.
This effort aligns with similar developments in other sectors where drones are being utilised to enhance service delivery. For instance, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, also known as IFFCO, is running a massive project to use drones for agricultural spraying and monitoring.
Similarly, healthcare delivery in difficult terrains has seen trials using drones, such as the Medicine from the Sky initiative in Telangana, where essential medicines and vaccines are delivered to remote areas.
Globally, postal services are increasingly exploring drone technology for last-mile delivery solutions. For example, Korea Post has been using drones for mail delivery to islands, while international logistics companies like Amazon are developing drone services to deliver parcels in urban and rural areas.
According to a senior official, if the PoC is successful, it could pave the way for further adoption of drones, contributing to improved logistics, environmental sustainability, and enhanced connectivity in the postal network.
