A postal department employee displays the World Net Express packet at the head post office in Doranda. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Nov. 27: The Jharkhand postal circle today launched the World Net Express — an international parcel service — to be run in collaboration with Daeusxe Post, a firm owned by the German government.

The service would be the first-of-its-kind and would provide a special facility by which a customer would be able to keep track of a parcel on the Internet.

“The service would use the services of the DHL Courier and their supply chain. Any parcel would be delivered within six to 15 days of dispatch, depending on the distance of the destination,” said Anil Kumar, the director of postal services of the Jharkhand circle.

Though previously a private company, DHL supply chain is currently owned by Germany’s Daeusxe Post.

The private courier company (DHL) was bought by it a year ago. However, Daeusxe Post which is by itself a name to reckon with in the international market with an annual turnover of $100 billion, has decided to retain the older name of the courier service.

The World Net Express services were launched across the country today. The Jharkhand section was launched in a low-key ceremony — much like the rest of India.

Director Anil Kumar explained that previously there were plans for a gala function for the inaugural ceremony to be held at the Doranda Head Post Office in Ranchi , but the event was cancelled after the Mumbai blasts.

The tie-up has spelt great bargain for the people of the state and the country, as the World Net Express service would provide free packing materials for any parcel and would charge some 14-15 per cent less than any private courier, including the DHL Courier.

The postal department has included 220 countries across the world where the World Net Express service would deliver the parcels to.