Former Jet Airways CEO Questions Zomato's 10-Minute Delivery Push

New Delhi: A sharp public exchange has erupted over Zomato's plan to promise deliveries in as little as 10 minutes, with former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor asking whether such speed is really necessary outside of emergencies.

What did the former aviation boss say?

On Thursday, Sanjiv Kapoor took to social media to question Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal’s celebration of record delivery numbers on New Year’s Eve. 

Sanjiv said the country’s crowded cities already face traffic gridlock and safety risks, and asked if delivery times of 30 minutes or even an hour might be more sensible for workers and customers alike. He framed his comments as a simple question rather than an attack.

He asked Zomato CEO, "Deepinder, what I am really curious about is do we really need 10 minute deliveries in our chaotic urban conditions unless for medical emergencies? Would 30 minutes or 1 hour delivery (without so much pressure and need for speed) be the end of the world?.

What triggered this conversation?

The exchange follows Goyal's post on X highlighting that Zomato and its quick-commerce arm Blinkit completed 75 lakh of food and grocery orders on December 31, despite calls for a gig-worker strike. The company said delivery partners largely kept services running. 

Is Zomato forcing riders to rush?

Goyal responded to public concerns by saying delivery partners aren’t timed or pressured to speed on the road. They explain that the 10-minute promise is enabled by a dense network of nearby dark stores and smart logistics, not by pushing riders to break rules. Delivery workers reportedly don't even see a countdown timer on their app.

What do workers say?

Not all reaction has been with the company. Some gig workers have protested nationwide, demanding better pay and safer conditions and criticising the 10-minute delivery model as stressful and potentially dangerous.