Blue Dart sets up outbound gateway in Hyd

News Clip : Business Standard, Hyderabad

09th June, 2006.

Air express, courier and package distribution company, Blue Dart announced the opening of its outbound gateway at Hyderabad. The company has invested Rs 3.5 crore in Andhra Pradesh and has plans to set up two facilities in Vijayawada and Hitec City here.

Addressing the media, Malcolm Monteiro managing director, Blue Dart Express Limited, said. "Hyderabad is an important growing market for us. We had started inbound services to Hyderabad in 2004 and seeing the increasing potential in this market have now started outbound service too." The outbound gateway now connects Hyderabad to cities like Chennai Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi. Around 35 per cent of Blue Dart's revenues come from the South.

The company has eight offices and two warehouses in Hyderabad and is planning to set up two service stations in Vijayawada and Hitec City to pick up and sort out the cargo. The company has 217 facilities across, the country and plans to add 45 more this year. An investment of Rs 25 crore bas been earmarked in this regard.

According to Monteiro the company has a 39 per cent market share in the domestic express space. Blue Dart operates with five Boeing 737 freighters and two Boeing 757s. "We will induct more aircraft based on the needs of the market, " he added.