Keeping pace with the latest developments in the Courier Express & Parcel (CEP) market, the Department of Posts started a proof of concept (POC) this month for transmission of mail through drone between Chowkham Post Office (PO) and Wakro Branch Post Office (BO) located in Namsai and Lohit district, respectively of Arunachal Pradesh, when a drone from Chowkham PO airlifted at 10.40 am and landed at Wakro BO at 11.02 am, carrying mail for the BO. In the return journey, the drone airlifted from Wakro BO at 11.44 am and landed at Chowkham PO at 12.08 pm.
The Department has entered into a tie-up with SKYE AIR Mobility Private Limited for carrying out the POC. Wakro BO is located at a distance of 45 km from Chowkham PO. However, due to mountainous terrain, existing transmission time for mail between Chowkham PO to Wakro BO is around 2 to 2 ½ hours as the mail is carried through the buses of Arunachal Pradesh State Transport services. Transmission through environment friendly drones has reduced the time between Chowkham PO and Wakro BO to 22-24 minutes. Transmission of mail through drone will not only reduce the transmission time in conveyance of mail, but also bring reliability in transmission as well as facilitate real-time tracking of mail in difficult mountainous areas. This POC will help the Department in improving delivery services in areas under Wakro BO.
The Department of Posts will expand the use of drones for transmission of mail in other difficult and mountainous areas upon the successful conclusion of POC, said a release.