Blue Dart Ties up with Priority Couriers

- Customers get access to 50 remote locations in the Kashmir Valley -

Blue Dart Express Limited, India's largest integrated express company today announced the launch of its services in the Kashmir Valley. The company has entered into a Regional Service Participant (RSP) agreement with Priority Courier Services to service the Kashmir valley region. Continuing with its strategy to expand rapidly in smaller locations, this new agreement enables Blue Dart to offer world class services to over 1101 locations across the country. Currently Blue Dart network covers 156 locations in the North, and with this new RSP agreement, Blue Dart will service additional 50 remote locations in the significant zone of Kashmir valley.

Priority Courier Services, the largest couriers in Kashmir have its own network throughout the valley. It covers an average length of about 160 kms and a breadth of 140 kms, sprawling over an area of above 16000 square kilometers with an average altitude of 5600 feet. It has more than 50 branches and extension counters that connect to almost all the areas of the valley including Kupwara town near the border. The company also has its own independent On-Line network in these areas.

Commenting on this tie-up, Ashok K Jain, Sr. Vice President - North, Blue Dart Express Limited, said that "This RSP agreement offers increased business opportunities for consumers as these locations are budding business centres today and house number of industries like Carpets, Shawls, Paper Machines, and Saffron. These businesses will benefit substantially with the presence of Blue Dart as it will allow them access to world wide distribution network and the inbound services will allow others to be in touch with them."

Blue Dart has pioneered the concept of all Jet cargo networks in India. Blue Dart's Boeing 737 Freighters offer a capacity of 16 tonnes each, enabling the company to provide overnight delivery for shipments ranging from 500 grams upwards to 16 tonnes in varied shapes and sizes, to 1101 locations in India. This has helped Blue Dart consolidate its market share in the Indian express industry and emerge as a leading domestic player. Today, Blue Dart's infrastructure includes two Boeing 737's, over 1500 vehicles and a countrywide communication network which offers its customers package tracking and tracing. Blue Dart is the only express company with an ISO 9001 certification.

Blue Dart Express Limited is India's leading express company with a 36% domestic market share. Blue Dart today offers a comprehensive range of services and products for both international and domestic shippers. Blue Dart's continuous commitment towards understanding the needs and concerns of the customer has enabled it to provide unmatched standards of service quality with 99.84% reliability levels in the express industry. Over the years, Blue Dart has managed to expand this market rapidly which is reflected in its turnover growth over the last three years. Blue Dart is one of the largest Global Service Participants of FedEx, the world's largest express transportation company.

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Dated : February 2, 1999.