Indian Railways launches door-to-door parcel delivery service between Mumbai and Kolkata

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub in Uttar Pradesh and flagged off two new door-to-door freight and parcel services aimed at improving logistics efficiency across India.

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The minister said the new service model will allow industries to ship smaller consignments without filling an entire rake, bridging the gap between factories and railway loading points. He added that Indian Railways will now offer comprehensive end-to-end logistics solutions, including first- and last-mile connectivity.

The Sonik hub, located about 50 km from Lucknow and 20 km from Kanpur, has become the first integrated logistics facility of its kind. Developed under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative, it will cater to the growing freight needs of the Kanpur–Lucknow region. The facility includes warehousing, container stuffing and de-stuffing points, and amenities for customers and workers. The Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) will manage the terminal’s operations, ensuring seamless movement of fertilizers, cement, food-grains, and tractors.

Shri Vaishnaw noted that more than 115 Gati Shakti cargo terminals have been developed nationwide to promote multimodal transport. He said the Mumbai–Kolkata corridor will be the first to operate under the new system, followed by other major routes.

The Assured Transit Container Train Service, connecting Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Kolkata, guarantees delivery within 120 hours and will run twice a week. Customers can choose between door-to-door, door-to-terminal, or terminal-to-door options through the CONCOR e-Logistics mobile app.

The Door-to-Door Parcel Service on the Mumbai-Kolkata route offers a 7.5% cost reduction and nearly 30% faster transit compared to road transport. The model integrates first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery handled by CONCOR’s business associates, while the middle-mile is covered through Indian Railways’ parcel trains. The service already caters to brands such as Castrol India, VIP Industries, Godrej & Boyce, and Nestle.

A 5,400-cubic-foot storage facility at both the Mumbai and Kolkata hubs supports the operation. Officials said the service will also be available to retail consumers, marking a major shift from Indian Railways’ traditional focus on bulk freight to smaller, containerised parcel movement.

Door-to-Door initiatives to enhance operational efficiency & cut logistics costs.
🚆 Railway Goods Sheds as Integrated Logistics Hub, Sonik
🚆 Assured transit container train service (Delhi to Kolkata)
🚆 Door-to-door parcel service, utilising Railways Parcel Van (Mumbai to… pic.twitter.com/TnpAGAFhld

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 14, 2025