E-tailers to deliver at metro stations

Come February, Delhi Metro stations will double up as terminals for e-commerce sites, with customers being given the option of getting products delivered at select stations so they can collect them at their convenience.

The arrangement is expected to come in handy for those who make online purchase but are generally not at home to receive things ordered. Now they can ask the portals to have the products delivered at designated Metro terminals from where they can collect them during travel.

Payment on delivery option, using credit or debit cards will also be provided to the customers at the 'Automated Parcel Delivery Terminals' at 10 stations including those in Gurgaon and Noida, a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official said.

The chosen stations, distributed over the busiest lines of Metro, are MG Road, HUDA City Centre, Noida Sector 18, Laxmi Nagar, Vaishali, Nehru Place, Dwarka Sector 9, Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk and GTB Nagar.

"This is a move to provide last mile delivery option to the customers of e-tailers which will act as a revenue generation model for DMRC as we are providing the space for setting up these kiosks," a metro official said.

Under the arrangement, customers will be given the option to get their merchandise delivered to these designated terminals during their online purchase itself.

Those who opt for it will receive a unique identity number (One Time Password) via SMS or e-mail after confirmation of purchase. "Then the customer will be able to receive his order from these terminals by providing the password to the staff."

Metro authorities declined to name any e-commerce sites, several of which have come up and grown increasingly popular in recent times, saying the details were being worked out.