Coimbatore Junction Among 7 Stations to Get Blinkit Delivery Under Southern Railway’s Pilot Project

Coimbatore: Passengers travelling through Coimbatore Junction will soon be able to order everyday essentials through Blinkit, under a new pilot initiative launched by the Salem Division of Southern Railway.

The division has awarded the quick-commerce platform a six-month contract worth Rs 8.02 lakh to provide app-based delivery services at seven major railway stations. The initiative, titled FAST (Fast Access to Essentials & Supplies on Train), is being implemented under the Railways' Non-Fare Revenue (NFR) initiative. According to an official infographic released by the Salem Division, this marks the first such initiative of its kind in Indian Railways.

Under the contract, Blinkit will facilitate the delivery of everyday essentials to railway passengers through online ordering. The initiative is intended to make essential products more accessible to travellers while improving convenience during their journeys.

The seven stations covered under the pilot project are Coimbatore Junction (CBE), Coimbatore North (CBF), Podanur Junction (PTJ), Tiruppur (TUP), Erode Junction (ED), Salem Junction (SA) and Karur (KRR).

The FAST initiative focuses on four key features: quick access to essentials through on-run delivery, reliable and organised services managed through quick-commerce aggregators, a wide range of products permitted under the scheme, and seamless online ordering for convenient fulfilment.

Through this arrangement, passengers will have access to a range of permitted products via digital ordering, with deliveries managed through the designated service provider. The initiative aims to provide an organised and efficient service while enhancing the overall travel experience.

The six-month pilot contract is valued at Rs 8.02 lakh. The performance of the initiative may provide a basis for assessing the feasibility of expanding similar quick-commerce services at railway stations in the future.