Guwahati: A drone-powered postal service was inaugurated for the first time in Assam on Tuesday in Hajo town. The initiative aims to improve mail connectivity to rural and remote areas and reduce delivery time.The inaugural run operated from the Hajo sub-office under the Guwahati division to two branch offices: Khetri Hardia branch office, 7 km away, and Dampur branch office, 8 km away.“The routes are part of nine routes currently identified from Hajo sub-office, covering a combined distance of 82 km. The initiative aims to explore the potential of drone technology for faster transmission of postal bags between the sub-office and branch post offices,” a senior postal department official said.On June 18, India Post signed an agreement with Skye Air Mobility Private Limited to operate drone flights carrying branch office mail bags between account offices and branch post offices across Assam and Himachal Pradesh. The project will cover 40 locations in Assam and 110 in Himachal Pradesh.The drone-based system is expected to enable faster transmission, real-time tracking, improved reliability and reduced dependence on conventional road transport. “The programme will also help assess the operational feasibility of drone-based branch office bag transmission in Assam’s varied terrain,” the official said.“We are using drone technology for postal deliveries in Assam for the first time, marking a new milestone for the Department of Posts. I would like to thank Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister for development of the north-eastern region, for his support and encouragement. The initiative was first introduced in Himachal Pradesh and has now been extended to Hajo in Assam. This is an important step towards exploring the use of technology to make postal deliveries faster, more efficient and accessible,” said Sachin Kishore, chief postmaster general, Assam.
