The four zones, and why distance is not what you think
India Post prices by zone, not by kilometres. Two parcels travelling the same distance can be charged completely differently — here is what actually decides it.
A parcel from Delhi to Chennai covers about 1,760 km. A parcel from Delhi to a small town 900 km away covers half that. The second one can cost more. This surprises people, and it is not a mistake.
Zones, not kilometres
The contractual parcel tariff has four rate columns: Local, Within State, Zone/Metro, and Other States. Every shipment is priced in one of them, and which one depends on the pair of addresses, not on the distance between them.
- Local — both ends in the same city or delivery district.
- Within State — both ends in the same postal circle.
- Zone/Metro — between two metro cities, or within the same postal zone.
- Other States — everything else in India.
Why the metro lane is cheap for the distance
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad have direct air and rail connections and a very high volume of traffic between them. A parcel on that lane moves through fewer hands than one going to a district town half the distance away, and it is priced accordingly.
What this means in practice
If you are choosing between two warehouses, or deciding where to hold stock, the zone map matters more than a map of India. A metro-to-metro lane is often the cheapest long-distance option available to you.
The rate calculator shows which zone a pincode pair resolves to and why, so you can check a lane before you commit to it.
Services
- Business Parcel — The lower-cost parcel lane, at contractual rates.
- Speed Post — India Post’s fastest lane, at contractual rates.
Main pages
Daakly is operated by Yahatech Solutions Private Limited, 51/D Goyal Complex, Opp. Ashima Tower, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380054, India. Email team@daakly.com.
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