Citing road safety concerns, MP minister asks Zomato to change 10-minute delivery plan

Madhya Pradesh: Citing road safety concerns with food delivery company Zomato's new feature promising delivery of food within 10 minutes, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has asked the company to change its quick delivery plans.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mishra said that the company's new feature is akin to jeopardising the life of delivery persons and people on roads.

He said food delivery persons can reach the destination within 10 minutes only by "driving rashly and dangerously".

He also added that Zomato will not be allowed to violate traffic rules and the company will be held responsible for the violation of traffic rules and accidents that occur during the instant delivery process.

"Zomato's plan of delivering food in 10 minutes is like playing with the lives of its employees (delivery partners) as well as the lives of other people. Let alone Zomato, no one will be allowed to violate traffic rules in Madhya Pradesh. I am exhorting Zomato to change these plans," Mishra said.

Zomato has been facing heat ever since its founder Deepinder Goyal had on Monday announced the company's plans to start a pilot of 'Zomato Instant' with four stations in Gurugram from April.

Critics were quick to point out road-safety hazards the initiative could pose for delivery executives as well as other vehicles and pedestrians on busy Indian thoroughfares.

Amid criticism of the new feature, the online food delivery platform on Tuesday clarified that there are no penalties for late deliveries and no incentives for on-time deliveries for both 10-minute and 30-minute deliveries.

The 10-minute delivery will be for specific nearby locations, the popular and standardised menu only, Goyal had said in a series of tweets.