In a major move to ensure transparency and prevent pilferage, the Uttar Pradesh government has made GPS-enabled vehicles compulsory for transporting foodgrains across the state. This initiative aims to put a decisive check on diversion, irregularities, and theft in the public distribution system.
Complete Digital Surveillance for Foodgrain Supply Chain
The state's Food and Civil Supplies Department has engaged a fleet of over 5,000 vehicles fitted with GPS tracking devices. This network enables real-time digital surveillance of the entire transportation process, from Food Corporation of India (FCI) depots to the doorsteps of fair price shops.
A government spokesperson confirmed the development, stating that the system allows for the monitoring of every sack of foodgrain. The control system continuously records critical data points including vehicle movement, unscheduled stoppages, route deviations, and timely arrivals. This granular tracking is expected to lead to a significant reduction in manipulation and black marketing during transit.
Mandatory for Kharif Season and Specific Vehicle Allocation
The government has declared the GPS tracking system mandatory for the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season 2025–26, specifically for paddy transportation. A detailed plan for vehicle allocation has been put in place.
For transporting paddy from procurement centres to rice mills, the state will deploy 3,773 GPS-fitted vehicles. An additional 1,428 vehicles will be used for moving coarse grains like maize, jowar, and bajra. This move ensures transparency from the initial point of government procurement right up to the storage depots.
Single Stage Delivery and Reduced Human Intervention
Complementing the GPS drive, Uttar Pradesh has discontinued the older block-level godown system. It has implemented the Single Stage Door Step Delivery model. Under this new arrangement, foodgrains are transported directly from FCI depots to fair price shops, eliminating intermediate handling points.
The entire logistics process is managed by contractors appointed through a transparent e-tendering system. This model drastically reduces human intervention, thereby enhancing accountability and efficiency in the supply chain.
According to official data, in the financial year 2025–26 so far, the state has allocated a total of 8.03 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains and coarse grains to selected beneficiaries. Furthermore, 36,850.35 metric tonnes of sugar have been allocated to Antyodaya beneficiaries during the same period. The GPS-based monitoring ensures these essential commodities reach the intended beneficiaries on time, without theft or quantity cuts.
