India's 10-Minute Delivery Model Under Fire Amid Rider Strikes, Safety Concerns

• India's quick-commerce 10-minute delivery model faces scrutiny after a nationwide strike by 200,000 riders demanding better pay, safety, and an end to ultra-fast timelines.
• Unlike the US, India's quick-commerce expanded post-pandemic, with platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto investing heavily in dark stores.
• Critics highlight the human cost, citing pressure on riders leading to risky behavior, road fatalities, and exposure to pollution in cities like New Delhi.
• Investor concerns are rising due to potential social security coverage for gig workers and the strike, impacting shares of Swiggy and Eternal (Zomato/Blinkit).
• Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal claims operations were unaffected, with record orders, and states Blinkit riders travel short distances at safe speeds, earning ~₹21,000 monthly.

Why It Matters: Rider strikes and safety issues challenge India's rapid delivery model, raising questions about its sustainability and human cost.