Zomato, one of India’s leading online food aggregators, is experimenting with a concept of priority delivery. The idea is simple yet intriguing—customers can now pay extra to get their orders and receive their meals faster.
Zomato’s priority delivery service aims to address this common frustration. By allowing customers to pay a little extra, Zomato promises quicker delivery times, making those hunger pangs a thing of the past.
Zomato is currently testing this feature in select cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai1. Customers who opt for priority delivery can expect their orders to arrive faster than the standard delivery time. For instance, if the usual wait time is 21 minutes, paying a nominal fee of Rs 29 could get your meal to your doorstep in just 16 to 21 minutes.
Even Zomato Gold members—part of the loyalty program that offers discounts and free delivery—are subject to this additional charge. So whether you’re a regular customer or a Gold member, the option to speed up your order is available to all.
In addition to priority delivery, the platform has also made changes to its fees. The platform fee—an extra charge on top of the delivery fee—has been increased by 25%. Initially introduced at Rs 2 in August 2023, it gradually climbed to Rs 3 in October and Rs 4 on January 1 this year. Now, it stands at Rs 5 per order. This change affects customers in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Lucknow1.
Interestingly, Zomato’s rival, Swiggy, already charges Rs 5 as a platform fee, and some Swiggy users even report seeing a fee of Rs 10. The battle for supremacy in the food delivery space is heating up, and every minute counts.
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