Ex-Jet Airways CEO questions Zomato's Deepinder Goyal on 10-min deliveries, says “Would 30-min or 1 hr delivery be the end of the world?”

Former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor questioned Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal on whether ultra-fast deliveries are really needed in Indian cities. 

His comments came after Goyal shared a post stating that Zomato and Blinkit continued normal operations despite recent strike calls by some gig workers. 

Kapoor made these remarks while gig workers across India were protesting against delivery platforms over issues related to pay, safety, and working conditions.

Sanjiv Kapoor Questions 10-Minute Delivery Model and Worker Pressure

Sanjiv Kapoor reacted to Deepinder Goyal’s post that highlighted how Zomato and Blinkit completed over 75 lakh orders for more than 63 lakh customers on New Year’s Eve. Goyal said around 4.5 lakh delivery partners were active that day and thanked local authorities and workers for keeping operations running.

Kapoor did not challenge the data shared by Goyal. Instead, he raised a broader concern about the impact of such fast delivery promises. 

In his post addressed to Goyal, Kapoor wrote, “What I am really curious about is do we really need 10 minute deliveries in our chaotic urban conditions unless for medical emergencies?” 

He added, “Would 30 minutes or 1 hour delivery (without so much pressure and need for speed) be the end of the world?”

His remarks struck a chord because they reflected worries often raised by delivery partners themselves. Many believe that tight delivery targets increase stress and raise the risk of road accidents

In his earlier post, Goyal had defended the gig economy and the delivery model. He said the system cannot be called unfair if it continues to attract and retain large numbers of workers. 

He also wrote, “If a system were fundamentally unfair, it would not consistently attract and retain so many people who choose to work within it.” 

Goyal described the gig economy as a major source of organised jobs in India and urged people not to believe what he called narratives driven by vested interests.

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Why Gig Workers Went on Strike Across India

This exchange happened against the backdrop of a nationwide gig workers’ strike on December 25 and December 31. The protest was called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. Major platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto, and Amazon were targeted.

Unions claimed that between 1.7 and 2 lakh workers logged off apps across India, including about 50,000 in Hyderabad. The strike focused on five main demands. These included restoring the old payout system, ending the 10-minute delivery model, stopping sudden ID blocks without appeals, providing insurance and pension support, and ensuring rest breaks and fair treatment.

Unions also criticised surge incentives offered during strike days, saying they do not address fuel costs, vehicle upkeep, or long-term income security.

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