The New Face of Q-Commerce: Drone Delivery of Groceries and Medicines in Under 10 Minutes Begins in Bengaluru
In a pioneering move toward faster, greener, and more efficient logistics, an apartment complex in South Bengaluru has introduced drone deliveries for groceries, medicines, and daily essentials. Residents of Prestige Falcon City now receive their essentials in under 10 minutes, thanks to a collaboration between BigBasket, Skye Air Mobility, and the apartment’s Resident Welfare Association.
The service, which currently operates from a BigBasket dark store within 5 kilometers of the complex, is powered by drones from Skye Air. These drones, approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), can carry packages under 7kg and are designed without cameras to ensure privacy in residential areas. Deliveries are made from 7 AM to 8 PM daily with no additional cost to customers.
“Our main objectives are to ensure faster service, improve efficiency, and reduce traffic congestion within the gated community,” said Avinash HV, president of the Bengaluru Apartment Federation (South) and a member of Prestige Falcon City’s RWA.
Each delivery is handled by a dedicated staff member who receives and dispatches the drone packages within the complex. The system allows for real-time tracking, and depending on demand, drones can deliver single or batched orders. The initiative is already streamlining traffic by eliminating the need for multiple delivery agents entering the complex daily.
Expansion to 20 More Societies on the Horizon
Encouraged by the success at Falcon City, Skye Air Mobility is preparing to expand this service to at least 20 more housing societies in Bengaluru over the next three months. Areas such as Jayanagar, Bannerghatta Road, and Electronic City have been identified as next in line.
“We currently handle 40–50 orders daily with two drones. Soon, we plan to operate 25–30 drones,” said Ankit Kumar, CEO of Skye Air Mobility.
To scale operations, the company is building a dedicated Skye Pod Network, a specialized infrastructure to facilitate direct drone landings in residential complexes. This is expected to significantly boost quick commerce delivery capabilities.
Kumar highlighted the efficiency of drone-based logistics: a drone can deliver 60 orders a day compared to the 30 that a human rider typically manages. Drone deliveries also help reduce the delivery radius and lower carbon emissions. With aerial routes nearly halving the travel distance compared to congested roads, drones could be a game changer in traffic-heavy urban settings.
Regulatory and Infrastructure Challenges Remain
While the technology holds immense promise, experts caution that its widespread use across cities is still in the experimental phase. According to Gulam Zia, senior executive director at Knight Frank India, clear policy guidelines, safety infrastructure, and robust operational models are prerequisites for full-scale adoption.
“Some gated communities may adopt drones in pilot phases, but large-scale use remains nascent,” Zia stated.
Kumar acknowledged these hurdles, particularly local-level enforcement under India’s Drone Rules 2021. While national approvals are in place, coordinating with local authorities remains a key challenge in scaling up.
Despite these obstacles, stakeholders agree that drone deliveries are here to stay. They may not replace traditional quick commerce logistics but will work alongside them to deliver faster, more sustainable services.
