Bengaluru, Apr 21, (CXO Media): Bengaluru saw one of India’s first intra-city drone delivery trials this week. FedEx and IIT Madras completed a pilot flight between Electronic City Phase II and a location near Kempegowda International Airport, testing the feasibility of drone-based logistics within city limits.
Mid-Mile Logistics Testing
The trial focused on mid-mile logistics operations, an area that connects distribution hubs rather than final customer delivery points. According to data shared by the project team, the existing 53-kilometre road route between the two locations typically takes more than 60 minutes. The drone-based aerial route covered approximately 39–42 kilometres and reduced one-way travel time to about 21 minutes during the test runs.
The exercise was conducted under the FedEx SMART Centre at IIT Madras, which works on logistics and transportation research. The trial also assessed how drone operations can support faster cargo movement while reducing pressure on road transport networks in densely populated cities.
Regulatory Clearances And Urban Airspace
The drones operated through designated Airport Yellow and Red Zones after securing approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The trial aimed to evaluate how drones can function safely in controlled urban airspace, especially near sensitive aviation zones.
Officials involved in the project said the exercise forms part of ongoing research into logistics technologies, including air cargo optimisation and integration of emerging transport systems. Researchers at IIT Madras stated that the trial provides operational data that can support further development of drone-enabled logistics networks in urban areas.
The pilot comes as logistics firms and research institutions in India explore alternatives to conventional transport methods to improve delivery speed and network efficiency, particularly in cities facing heavy traffic congestion.
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