Railway Parcel Management System undergoes total transformation

Status updation of packages through GPRS from mobile devices through scanning of barcodes

Indian Railways’ parcel services is are providing transportation for small consignments over a vast network of their stations. Small businesses and traders have been using these services to transport their merchandise from bigger cities and production centres to their business place in fast, reliable and cheap manner. Common man also uses these services for transportation of house-hold goods, furniture, two-wheelers, and parcel services are the only convenient mode of transportation.

With changing times the Parcel Management system also undergoes a total transformation to provide better services to the customers. It is to be mentioned that charging of Parcels is only on the basis of weight and volume, and not on the basis of type of commodity.

Talking about the modernization of Parcel Management System, The computerization of parcel management system is being extended from 84 locations to additional 143 locations in phase-II and 523 locations in phase –III. This will bring following enhanced features in parcel system. The interface for public website of Parcel Management System is now enhanced and user friendly on

www.parcel.indianrail.gov.in.
Provision of 120 days advance booking of parcel space has been enabled in PMS and now it shows the availability of parcel space on the online e-forwarding note module on PMS website.

The forwarding note is generated online by registered customers with fare estimate. The booking of parcel/luggage at parcel office at stations will be through computerized counters and automatic capturing of weight through electronic weighment of consignment. Now barcoding is on each consignment for tracking of parcel and Status updation of packages through GPRS network transmission of data from hand held mobile devices through scanning of barcodes.

SMS will be send to customers both sender and receiver at each stage from parcel booking, loading, unloading to delivery on registered mobile given at the time of booking. The tracking of packages through parcel website www.parcel.indianrail.gov.in on Mobile application on Android platform for customers. New Android based application to enable feeding of Loading/ unloading and revenue data from non-PMS stations dealing with parcel traffic.

FSLA (Freight System Ledger Accounting) module for online preparation of manifest for registered newspaper and magazine,
Lease module for long term/ short term parcel lease holders for preparation of online manifest and registration of lease holders,
online GSTN verification of the sender through GSTN portal at the time of booking are some of the facilities available now for the customers.

In order to undertake further modernization/revamp of Parcel Management System, as per the directions of Railway Board, M/s QCI has been engaged to study the system and to suggest further improvements based on the customer feedback and the latest trends in this sector.