DTDC Express Ltd. has launched Vallam Express, a waterway-based last-mile delivery service aimed at bringing doorstep parcel deliveries to Kerala’s backwater communities.
The initiative, launched ahead of the Onam season, is currently operational in Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, where waterways remain an important means of transport and several settlements have limited road connectivity.
The company said the service addresses a long-standing last-mile challenge faced by customers in water-bound areas. Until now, residents often had to travel by boat to the nearest courier collection point to receive parcels, as conventional delivery networks were largely dependent on road access.
Under Vallam Express, DTDC delivery personnel will work with traditional local oarsmen to navigate waterways and deliver parcels directly to customers.
The collaboration brings local knowledge of Kuttanad’s waterways into the company’s logistics network while creating additional livelihood opportunities for traditional boatmen.
DTDC said Vallam Express is being positioned as a long-term delivery solution rather than a seasonal campaign. Kuttanad comprises 14 villages and has a population of around two lakh people. As the service expands, the company expects it to facilitate more than 5,000 deliveries over the next year.
Abhishek Chakraborty, CEO of DTDC Express Ltd., said the initiative was designed around the specific geographical realities of the region.
He said Vallam Express reflects DTDC’s approach of developing logistics solutions around local conditions and customer requirements, while strengthening the company’s focus on customer-centric last-mile connectivity.
The model also highlights how traditional transport systems can complement modern logistics infrastructure in regions where conventional road-based delivery is difficult or inefficient.
DTDC has also launched a brand film, #DTDCVallamExpress, as part of its Onam campaign. Featuring Kerala’s traditional snake boats and waterways, the campaign is built around the theme “When Roads End, We Ride on Water”.
Headquartered in Mumbai, DTDC Express is an integrated logistics company offering technology-enabled express delivery and logistics services across India and international markets.
