DTDC launches Vallam Express for Kerala’s water-bound communities

DTDC Express has launched Vallam Express, a waterway-based last-mile delivery service that brings doorstep parcel deliveries to communities in Kerala’s backwaters.

The service has been introduced in Kuttanad, a sub-district of Alappuzha comprising 14 villages and serving around 2 lakh people. DTDC expects Vallam Express to facilitate more than 5,000 deliveries over the coming year.

The service addresses the challenge faced by customers in Kerala’s backwater communities, who have traditionally had to travel by boat to collect parcels from the nearest courier collection point because conventional delivery networks ended where road access stopped.

Vallam Express uses Kerala’s waterways to deliver parcels directly to customers’ doorsteps, making delivery possible in communities where waterways are the main mode of transport.

The service brings together DTDC’s delivery professionals and traditional local oarsmen, who use their knowledge of the region’s waterways to navigate routes that cannot be accessed by road. DTDC said the model also creates livelihood opportunities by integrating local expertise into its delivery network.

The name Vallam Express is inspired by Kerala’s Vallam Kali, the traditional snake boat race known for its speed and teamwork. The word “Express” reflects the pace of DTDC’s last-mile delivery operations.

To mark the launch during the Onam season, DTDC has also released a brand film, #DTDCVallamExpress, featuring Kerala’s iconic snake boats. The campaign highlights the themes of teamwork, resilience and togetherness and is based on the thought, “When Roads End, We Ride on Water.”

Abhishek Chakraborty, CEO, DTDC Express, said, “More than a new delivery service, ‘Vallam Express’ reflects DTDC's philosophy of building logistics solutions that are shaped by local realities and customer needs.”

He added that the company is using a region-specific delivery model to strengthen its customer-first approach and develop solutions for the communities it serves.

S.D. Venukumar, a local figure in Alappuzha and former Chairman of the Publicity Committee and President of the Alappuzha Press Club, said the initiative would help bridge the geographical gap for people living in remote backwater communities where road connectivity is limited.

DTDC said Vallam Express is intended to be a long-term delivery solution rather than a seasonal initiative.