In a significant step toward modernising postal services, the Department of Posts has launched a drone mail service in Mandi district to improve delivery in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Under a pilot project, mail was successfully transported for the first time by drone from the Mandi Head Post Office to the Rehadhar Branch Post Office in the Drang region.
The inaugural flight covered the route in just six minutes, a journey that typically takes much longer using conventional transport due to the difficult hilly terrain. The service was formally launched on Friday through a joint initiative of the Department of Posts and Skye Air Company.
As part of the trial run, mail was dispatched from Mandi to Rehadhar, while the drone also carried back the day’s collected mail from Rehadhar to Mandi, demonstrating efficient two-way postal transport. The aerial route spans approximately five to six kilometres one way.
Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Superintendent at the Mandi Head Post Office, said the drone completed a total round trip of nearly 12 kilometres in just six minutes. He noted that mail delivery in the region has traditionally been time-consuming due to challenging terrain and limited connectivity.
“With the introduction of drone technology, postal deliveries can now be completed within minutes, significantly enhancing operational efficiency,” he said.
Mandi Postmaster Neha Sankhyan highlighted that drone-based postal services are already operational at around 150 locations across India in collaboration with Skye Air Company. In Mandi district alone, the service has been introduced at 10 locations, enabling faster and more reliable mail delivery and collection in remote areas.
According to Subhash Dubey, an employee of Skye Air Company, the drones used for postal transport can carry payloads of up to 10 kilograms and travel distances of 30 to 50 kilometres via aerial routes, making them well-suited for logistics in mountainous and inaccessible regions.
The company has deployed eight drones in Mandi district for operations across multiple locations. Officials believe the initiative will not only strengthen postal connectivity in remote villages but also pave the way for wider adoption of drone technology in public service delivery across the state.
The launch marks an important milestone in India’s efforts to integrate advanced technology into essential public services, offering a faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly solution for mail transportation in challenging terrains.
