Himachal Postal to expand Drone mail delivery to 110 routes

Himachal Postal to expand Drone mail delivery to 110 routes

Shimla, Oct 9,

Himachal Pradesh will soon have drone-based mail and parcel delivery on 110 routes, with the service already operational on 36 routes, Chief Postmaster General Sanjay Singh said on Friday.

Speaking at the launch of World Post Day and National Postal Week 2026, Singh said the initiative aims to improve connectivity with remote and inaccessible villages, reduce delivery time and enhance the reliability of postal services.

The service was launched on August 13 with the drone delivery of the national flag from Mandi Head Post Office to Rehar Dhar Branch Post Office.

This year’s National Postal Week, being observed from October 9 to 15, carries the theme “One Post Network, Infinite Possibilities”, highlighting technology and innovation in postal services.

Himachal has 2,797 Post Offices

According to the postal circle’s data as of September 30, Himachal Pradesh has 2,797 post offices, including 18 head post offices, 452 sub-post offices and 2,327 branch post offices. Of these, 2,684 serve rural areas.

The network is managed by 8,958 personnel, including 2,485 departmental employees and 6,473 Gramin Dak Sevaks.

Postal revenue rises 50%

During April–September 2026, the postal circle handled 20.69 lakh postal articles, generating revenue of ₹12.18 crore, a 50 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.

The department reported 70.87 lakh active Post Office Savings Bank accounts, with 7.94 lakh accounts opened during the period. It also issued 41,943 new Postal Life Insurance policies with a total sum assured of ₹1,730.65 crore.

Postal facilities processed 2,00,197 Aadhaar enrolments and updates and 25,632 passport applications. The circle also organised 177 Dak Chaupal camps during the six-month period.

India Post Payments Bank has 8.80 lakh accounts in the state.

Digital services and innovation

The postal circle has connected 35,743 mobile banking users and 45,817 internet banking users under its digitisation campaign.

Five services from state government departments have also been integrated with the postal network, covering agricultural sample transportation, BC Sakhi services, public health awareness, digital life certificates and logistics support for educational materials.

National Postal Week will feature activities on philately, financial inclusion, parcel services and technological innovation, culminating in Technology and Innovation Day on October 15, which will include a special focus on drone delivery.

The postal circle aims to strengthen last-mile connectivity through technology, digital services and its extensive rural network.

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