DMRC, Blue Dart to roll out freight services on Delhi Metro soon

DMRC said that Blue Dart will transport cargo via metro trains during non-peak hours, utilising available capacity to ensure faster and more reliable movement of time-sensitive shipments.

Freight services will soon be a reality on Delhi Metro, as logistics company Blue Dart has signed a pact with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to use the city transporter’s services for the movement of goods, making it the first such move in the South Asia Pacific region.

 

In a statement on Sunday, the DMRC said Blue Dart would transport cargo via metro trains during non-peak hours, utilising available capacity to ensure faster and more reliable movement of time-sensitive shipments.

 

The move will boost the DMRC’s revenue — hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic — while reducing road congestion and vehicular emissions. “The DMRC will optimise its resources while reinforcing its commitment to environmentally friendly transport solutions,” the transporter said.

 

Using metro systems for freight is not a new idea, but it has not been successfully tried on Indian urban rail transit systems yet. A pilot freight project was launched during the inception of Delhi Metro’s airport line between Dwarka and New Delhi, but the move did not bear fruit. 

 

“Globally, metro systems are increasingly exploring ways to utilise spare capacity to generate revenue while promoting sustainability. For instance, Madrid Metro has initiated a pilot project in collaboration with logistic partners to transport parcels via metro trains,” the DMRC said. The transporter is consulting with Madrid Metro to exchange insights in urban freight transportation.

 

The DMRC will also look to expand this policy, making it clear its goal would be to augment its revenues going forward. 

 

“We will use the last coach in the first trains that have minimal passenger movement. As of now, no intermediate coaches will be used. ⁠Some initial trials have been done for few days on the Blue Line (Dwarka Sector 21 to Vaishali/Noida Electronic City) and we will take up gradually for different lines and subsequently full-fledged movement in phases,” the DMRC said told Business Standard.

 

As part of its long-term vision, the DMRC plans to expand this cargo network to additional metro stations.

 

Delhi Metro’s passenger ridership took a major hit after Covid-19, posing questions on its revenue generation abilities. While daily ridership has been hitting all-time highs now, the Union government is looking at increasing the profitability of metro systems across the country.

 

By integrating first-mile and last-mile connectivity through metro-enabled logistics solutions and Micro Parcel Hubs, the project enhances supply chain efficiency while alleviating road congestion and urban pollution, the DMRC said. 

 

“Under this initiative, the DMRC is leveraging its stations and tracks to establish a sustainable urban freight network across Delhi-NCR,” it said, adding that the baggage dimensions for cargo will be the same as what is permissible for regular passengers.

 

GOODS ON BOARD 

*  DMRC integrating and first- and last-mile services with metro for seamless cargo movement

 

*  Initial trials done on Blue Line (Dwarka Sector 21 to Vaishali/Noida Electronic City)

 

*  DMRC, Blue Dart consulting Madrid Metro for best practices

 

*  Move to boost Covid-hit DMRC’s revenues and ease congestion and curb vehicular emissions