The report states that the region’s strong Tier 2 and Tier 3 linkages, growing air connectivity and drone operations reflect a decisive shift towards future-ready logistics
Benefitting from infrastructure modernisation, technology adoption and growing ecommerce penetration across tier 1 and 2 cities, north India continues to emerge as a leading region in India’s last-mile delivery transformation, a report revealed.
A report Express Industry Council of India’s (EICI), commissioned by EICI with KPMG in India as the knowledge partner, noted that India has added 85 new operational airports over the last decade, including 33 airports in Tier 2 cities and 51 airports in Tier 3 centres. Air traffic movements between tier 1 and Tier 2 or Tier 3 cities have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 16 per cent, improving mid-mile connectivity that directly strengthens last-mile efficiency in markets such as Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow.
“North India has established itself as a frontrunner in India’s last-mile evolution. The region’s strong Tier 2 and Tier 3 linkages, growing air connectivity and pioneering drone operations reflect a decisive shift towards future-ready logistics,” stated Vijay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), EICI.
Gurugram has become the country’s flagship drone delivery zone. The Express Industry in India 2025 report noted more than 50,000 shipments delivered through drone networks, signalling the region’s readiness to adopt high-speed, alternative last-mile solutions. The report also highlightd rising ecommerce activity, with Tier 3 cities contributing 40 per cent of India’s total ecommerce shipments.
The report pointed out that north India is already seeing expansion of urban warehouses and dark stores, supported by sustainable facilities such as a 1,42,000 square metre green logistics park in Delhi NCR. With last-mile delivery accounting for more than 50 per cent of total logistics cost, the region’s strategic adoption of technology, infrastructure upgrades and logistics-friendly urban planning positions it as a national model, it emphasised.
