Order a charger, medicines or personal care items while travelling by train: Southern Railway partners with Blinkit to solve passengers' last-minute woes

The Salem division of Southern Railway has partnered with quick-commerce platform Blinkit to enable passengers to order essential items for delivery at selected railway stations. The initiative is aimed at helping travellers access products such as mobile chargers, personal care items, medicines and refreshments, particularly when trains stop at stations for only a short time. Under the arrangement, passengers can place orders through the Blinkit app while approaching participating stations and collect their purchases from designated delivery points on railway platforms or near station entrances during scheduled train halts.

Blinkit delivery service aims to help passengers during short train halts

The service is intended to address a common problem faced by railway passengers who have little time to purchase essential items during brief station stops. Travellers may need phone chargers, electronic accessories or personal care products during their journeys but may not have enough time to visit station shops.

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By bringing quick-commerce deliveries closer to passengers, the Salem division aims to make essential items more accessible without requiring travellers to leave the station or risk missing their trains.

The availability of products and delivery arrangements will depend on the participating stations and the operational conditions of the service.

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The Blinkit partnership is part of efforts to explore new ways of improving passenger convenience through collaborations with private companies. Railway officials expect such arrangements to provide access to a wider range of products while creating opportunities to generate additional non-fare revenue.

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According to a senior railway official quoted by TOI, the collaboration is intended to modernise passenger services by using quick-commerce logistics to make essential items available during train journeys.

The official said the initiative aims to help passengers obtain what they need without compromising their travel schedules or safety.

Could Blinkit deliveries expand to more railway stations?

The Salem division's initiative could offer a model for similar partnerships at other railway stations if the service proves effective. Quick-commerce platforms could help bridge gaps in access to everyday essentials, particularly for passengers travelling on routes with short scheduled halts.

However, wider adoption would depend on factors such as delivery coordination, station access, passenger safety and the time available for handing over orders.

The partnership brings railway services and quick-commerce logistics together in an effort to make train travel more convenient. Further details on the participating stations, product availability and the service's operational rollout would help clarify how passengers can use the facility.


Inputs from TOI