Indian Post is now ready to use new technology in sending mail. The Postal Department has started Proof of Concept (PoC) for mail transmission through drones in Arunachal Pradesh. The department said on Tuesday that after the successful operation of the PoC, the Postal Department will expand the use of drones for mail transmission in other difficult and hilly areas. According to PTI news, the Postal Department has signed an agreement with Sky Air Mobility to carry out the PoC.

A drone flew from Chowkham Post Office

According to the news, the Department of Posts has launched Proof of Concept (POC) for mail transmission through drones between Chowkham Post Office and Wakro Branch Post Office located in Namsai and Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh respectively on October 21, 2024, when a drone from Chowkham Post Office took off at 10.40 am and landed at Wakro Branch Post Office at 11.02 am carrying mail for the BO.

Mail delivery time reduced to 22-24 minutes

On the return journey, the drone took off from Wakro Branch Post Office at 11.44 am and landed at Chowkham Post Office at 12.08 pm. Wakro Branch Post Office is located at a distance of 45 km from Chowkham Post Office. Due to the hilly terrain, it takes about 2-2.5 hours to deliver mail between Chowkham Post Office and Wakro Branch Post Office, as mail is delivered through Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services buses. By delivering mail through eco-friendly drone, the time taken to deliver mail between the two places has been reduced to 22-24 minutes.

Real time tracking of mail will also be possible

The department has said that delivering mail through drones will not only reduce the time taken in delivering mail but will also bring reliability in mail delivery and also enable real-time tracking of mail in inaccessible hilly areas. This will help the Postal Department to improve mail delivery services in areas under the Wakro Branch Post Office. It has been said that after the successful operation of POC, the Postal Department will expand the use of drones to deliver mail in other difficult and mountainous areas as well.