Drones deliver letters in remote parts of Shimla

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The department has partnered with Skye Air Mobility, India’s leading drone delivery logistics company for delivering letters and parcels in remote villages. The successful experiment has resulted in the letters and parcels being dropped in barely 10 minutes compared to days by land route, which included trekking several kilometres for delivery.

The maiden drone trials were conducted between the Upper Shimla postal hub at Hatkoti and sub-post offices in villages such as Kathasu, Anti and Jharag. With Skye Air’s state-of-the-art drones, letters and parcels that previously required hours to deliver now reach their destination within just 10 minutes.

The successful trials by the Postal Department could revolutionise mail delivery in remote and snow-covered regions of Himachal Pradesh. Using cutting-edge drone technology, this initiative marks a significant step toward efficient and timely postal services in challenging terrains. This not only accelerates delivery timelines but also ensures accessibility to the most isolated communities.

Significantly, Himachal has made use of drone technology even in districts like Chamba and Kangra for the delivery of life-saving medicines and collection of samples for laboratory testing. The availability and delivery of medicines in the remote areas of Chamba, having very difficult terrain in areas like Tissa, Kehar, Bharmour and Pangi, is tough and could take several days. This, too, is subject to weather and road conditions which most often are inclement, especially during the harsh winters when the area is covered under heavy snow.

Ankit Kumar, CEO of Skye Air Mobility, expressed his enthusiasm about this groundbreaking initiative, stating, “Skye Air is proud to collaborate with the Indian Postal Department for trials to bring the power of drone technology to one of the most challenging regions in the country. Our drones are designed to navigate complex geographies, ensuring that critical services like mail delivery are uninterrupted, even in adverse weather conditions,” he said. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to using innovative solutions for public good, he added.

The trials were conducted under the guidance of the Central Government, emphasising the use of drones for essential services. The officials of the Postal Department said drones, capable of carrying significant payloads and navigating across vast distances, promise to transform logistics and postal operations in India.

“The integration of drone technology has reduced delivery time drastically and has enhanced our ability to serve residents in remote villages. We look forward to expanding this technology across the region,” said an official of the Postal department. They said the success of this pilot project will pave the way for the large-scale deployment of drones in other inaccessible regions, further enhancing connectivity and service delivery.