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Blue Dart Aims To Stop Using Diesel Vehicles In National Capital With Delhi Metro Tie-Up

Managing Director Balfour Manuel explained that the business rationale behind the collaboration with DMRC is to reduce emissions and lower the carbon footprint

<div class="paragraphs"><p>The move is aimed at reducing the company's carbon footprint while contributing to Delhi’s clean air challenges. (Source: Company website)</p></div>
The move is aimed at reducing the company's carbon footprint while contributing to Delhi’s clean air challenges. (Source: Company website)

Logistics services provider Blue Dart Express Ltd. has partnered with Delhi Metro Rail Corp. (DMRC) to facilitate large-scale cargo movement in the national capital. The move is aimed at reducing the company's carbon footprint while contributing to Delhi’s clean air challenges, Managing said Director Balfour Manuel.

Speaking to NDTV Profit, Manuel praised DMRC for their visionary approach, which he said draws inspiration from Spain’s Madrid model. “It is a groundbreaking way of carrying goods, particularly from the airport into the city. And I know of another city in the world that is Madrid and I think DMRC is also looking at that model.”

Manuel highlighted that the process involved the use of innovative equipment and methods to ensure efficient, large-scale cargo movement. He explained that the business rationale behind the collaboration with DMRC is to reduce emissions and lower the carbon footprint.

"The business rationale is to reduce emissions and carbon footprints. Blue Dart is committed to a zero-carbon footprint by 2050, aligning with the UN pledge for climate-neutral logistics. By the end of this year, we aim to eliminate diesel vehicles from Delhi,” he said.

Manuel added that over the past months, Blue Dart has tested the metro network to transport tonnes of cargo into the NCR. Blue Dart moves about 150 tonnes of cargo into the Delhi NCR region, including both their fleet of aircraft and commercial airlines. The metro network will now deliver a portion of this cargo.

“Over the last eight to nine months, we've been using the network with large tonnage, over 150 tonnes by air into the NCR region through our fleet. Not all of this will go through the Metro, but over time, a substantial portion will. We have dedicated metro sections without passenger interference, making it a sustainable line haul. This method uses the full capacity of the metro, and it’s a very viable operation. Some of the tonnage also comes via commercial airlines and spillover from other cities,” he explained.

Balfour Manuel further said that at present, the metro offers a two-stop option, though he prefers a one-stop for faster delivery. Although not all 150 tonnes will pass through the metro, the metro moves about 70% of the cargo into the city..

“Currently, it is not 150 tonnes. But we have a large chunk, almost 70% of that, moving into the city,” he said, adding that the percentage may evolve as the metro network expands.

“The goal is to meet customer needs efficiently, and as we move forward, we'll use micro parcel hubs for faster deliveries,” Manuel added.

Faster delivery in the city, after goods arrive via air, is crucial, and Manuel is confident that this method will eventually reduce overall transportation costs.

“Having carried it all the way through the night in our aviation network, then we want to get into the city faster. As for the cost question, again, over a period of time, I'm pretty sure this (metro) will be a more cost-effective method of transportation,” he mentioned.

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