In 2015, when Sabiha Mulla first reached out to Amazon, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had yet to be touched by the growing wave of e-commerce that was already sweeping across India. A researcher from Mumbai University with a thesis on island seaway trade routes, Sabiha saw the need for efficient logistics in this remote part of the country and decided to enroll in the Amazon Delivery Service Partner program.
“I had written to Amazon expressing interest in supporting logistics for the region,” she recalls. “They replied, and soon after, we launched operations in Port Blair. That was in July 2015, and it was the beginning of everything.”
Since then, Sabiha has grown from managing one delivery associate and a 120 sq. ft space, to leading a 50-member team operating out of a 3,000 sq. ft hub. Together, they deliver over 1,900 packages daily across Port Blair, Bamboo Flat and Havelock islands, bringing joy, accessibility, and modern convenience to the islanders and financial freedom to the delivery executives.
Breaking barriers
Driving Change in Logistics on the islands came with its share of challenges, right from poor internet speeds (sometimes as low as 80 kbps), frequent power outages, patchy flight connectivity, and unpredictable weather. The islands have eight months of rain, thanks to both the northeast and southwest monsoons.
“We had to learn to adapt to the challenges of monsoon and complex logistics. Today, it is routine. We are prepared with containerised delivery vehicles, waterproof coverings, and have in place safety protocols to ensure our delivery associates are protected and operations remain uninterrupted,” Sabiha says.
Amazon’s multi-modal logistics, especially its sea route from Chennai to Port Blair, has become a lifeline. “Amazon Transportation is the only one that has consistently taken the sea route to the islands, apart from air cargo. Every week, a container vessel carries our packages to Port Blair,” she adds.
Bringing e-commerce convenience to the islands
What started as a novelty quickly became a necessity. The islanders were still sceptical about ordering online. “Earlier, people would ask ‘Why shop online?’ Today, it’s an everyday part of life,” Sabiha explains. In fact, Amazon was the first e-commerce player to bring the concept of cash-on-delivery and reverse logistics or pickup services to the island. The response was overwhelming.
She remembers some of the early deliveries. “One of the first deliveries was a dog bone paid via cash-on-delivery. The other memorable delivery is a wheelchair that a resident had ordered for his elderly mother, who had mobility challenges. They were so happy when the wheelchair got delivered to their doorstep,” she says.
With improved infrastructure and internet connectivity, there are many e-commerce players now active in the islands. Sabiha has plans to expand access through local micro-hubs staffed by residents who can deliver to harder-to-reach areas. Of the 36 inhabited islands, deliveries are happening only to Port Blair, Bamboo Flat, and Havelock islands. While Port Blair continues to account for the largest share of orders, Bamboo Flat and Havelock islands now see 80–100 and 40–50 deliveries per day, respectively.
“In the next five years, we hope to reach more remote islands and ensure everyone here can access the same conveniences as anyone on the mainland,” she says.
Building local employment, empowering women
From one delivery associate to a thriving team of 50. “We now have 35–40 delivery associates and about 12 station staff. Of these, 9 are women,” she says with pride. “The appreciation and recognition from Amazon has always been there, and it is what has helped us stay committed through these 10 years.”
For the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sabiha isn’t just delivering parcels; she’s delivering possibility, inclusion, and freedom of access.
