Central Railway has begun the tendering process for a mechanised parcel and luggage handling service at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Wadi Bunder, with battery-operated platform trucks proposed to replace much of the current manual movement of consignments.
The proposed system will be used for railway-booked parcels and luggage covered by railway receipts and luggage tickets. Leased consignments will remain outside the contract. Central Railway said the initiative is intended to accelerate loading and unloading, reduce congestion in parcel areas and improve operational efficiency at the three locations.
Under the proposed contract, the selected licensee will use battery-operated platform trucks along with manual labour for handling and transhipment work at the stations and yards. The service provider will be responsible for sorting, weighing, marking, stacking and positioning outgoing parcels for loading.
For incoming consignments, the responsibilities will include unloading, weighing, safeguarding and transporting parcels to godowns, as well as arranging their delivery. The licensee will also be required to protect consignments from sunlight, rain and other potential sources of damage during handling and movement.
Central Railway said mechanised handling is expected to improve the speed and safety of parcel operations while limiting manual movement and congestion on platforms and in parcel areas. Faster loading and unloading could also reduce detention at terminal stations and support train punctuality, according to the railway zone.
The proposed vehicles will be four-wheeled battery-operated platform trucks. The selected service provider will have to deploy qualified drivers holding valid licences to operate them for handling and transhipment activities.
The tendering initiative comes as Central Railway reports higher revenue from its parcel transportation business. Up to November in the 2025-26 financial year, the zone earned Rs 183.80 crore from parcel and luggage services, recording growth of more than 37 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the railway zone.
Central Railway earned Rs 133.70 crore from parcel services in the previous financial year. The zone attributed the increase to focused marketing efforts and transport initiatives aimed at expanding the use of rail for moving parcels and luggage.
The proposed contract places the operational burden for movement, sorting, protection and delivery on the selected licensee while retaining manual labour as part of the handling system. The next step is the completion of the tendering process and appointment of the service provider for the three railway locations.
