KOLLAM: The next time you forget your headphones or toiletries at home while travelling by train, help could be just a click away.
Passengers may be able to place online orders and have the items delivered to their train or designated kiosks at stations. Southern Railway is planning to introduce app-based delivery of daily essentials at select railway stations in Keralam, expanding the convenience of on-demand delivery beyond food, which is already available through platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato.
The initiative aims to facilitate the delivery of everyday essentials through e-commerce platforms, quick-commerce providers and other digital platforms, allowing passengers to order items they need during their journey.
In Thiruvananthapuram division, 10 stations have been identified for the initiative: Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kollam Junction, Kayamkulam Junction, Chengannur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Junction, Aluva and Thrissur.
Kozhikode, Palakkad Junction, Kannur, Shoranur, Kasaragod, Thalassery, Tirur, Vadakara, Payyanur, Koyilandy and Ottapalam are the 11 stations chosen under Palakkad division. “We are planning to provide a kiosk at stations for sellers.
The second option would be to deliver items to trains according to orders placed by passengers,” said a senior official with the Thiruvananthapuram division of Southern Railway.
The kiosks would also serve as designated delivery points for passengers who prefer to collect their orders while leaving the station.
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“For instance, if a passenger gets off the train and travels home, they could choose the kiosk as the delivery point and collect the items on their way home. They could also place orders while on the train. This would provide both options, unlike food-delivery apps,” the official added.
While food-delivery platforms allow passengers to order meals and have them delivered to their trains, the proposed initiative would extend the service to a wider range of everyday essentials. It could offer commuters an alternative to the limited range of products available at station stalls, particularly when they need something they forgot to pack before leaving home.
Shaji P K, a teacher from Malappuram who frequently travels between his hometown and Kollam for work, welcomed the proposal. “In this day and age, it is a good initiative on the part of the Railways,” he said.
