India Post launches new parcel services

India Post on Monday launched two new parcel services, Express Parcel and Business Parcel, under which it will provide free pick up for orders above Rs 7,500 and cash-on-delivery for consignment value of up to Rs 50,000.

The Express Parcel is an air mail service, while business parcel will be delivered using surface transport, said Department of Post Secretary P Gopinath. Parcels booked under both the services will be delivered at most in 72 hours.

Though Business Parcels will have a nationwide coverage, the Express Parcels will be initially available between 20 cities, namely Agra, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Patna, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Pune, Parwanoo, Shillong, Surat and Thiruvananthapuram.

He said by the end of 2014, Express Parcel service will be expanded across the country. “There will be free pick-up facility for parcels where we can get minimum business of Rs 7,500 from that order. Pick-up services will be initially available for customers who enter into agreement with us,” Gopinath added.

India Post has fixed service charge for Express Parcels in the range of Rs 30 (local service) to Rs 80 (for delivery in other state) for items weighing up to Rs 500 gram. It will charge Rs 8 to Rs 20 for additional 500 gram up to 5 kg and Rs 10 to Rs 22 for every additional 500 gm thereafter.