Bengaluru's Prestige Falcon City to get food, essentials delivered by drones in 5 minutes

But this premium service has also raised eyebrows as, despite being a drone delivery initiative, it still requires the need for, as one X user put it, 'low-cost labour'. (Image credit: Prestige Constructions, Gemini)

An apartment complex in Bengaluru is set to get its food, grocery, and other essentials delivered via drones, thanks to the quick commerce platform BigBasket's premium drone delivery service, BBfly. In a notice sent to society residents, Prestige Falcon City stated that essentials like medicines, snacks, groceries, and electronics can be delivered by drones in five minutes.

The move is aimed at giving the residents of the luxury condominium -- where flat prices begin at approximately Rs 2 crore -- a "super-fast and thrilling delivery experience" and reducing the need for "external delivery personnel" from entering the society, the society's notice stated.

Once an order is placed on BigBasket, drones will fly and land at a dedicated platform within the society with the parcel. A trained delivery person stationed on-site would collect the package and deliver it to the door. A drone operator will also be present to monitor the landing area for safety. The service will be available from 7 am to 8.30pm.

Indias drone delivery future:~ 5 min flights~ 7kg payloads~ Last-mile = solved@bigbasket_com just rewrote retail logistics! Breaking news pic.twitter.com/85fbkrgQTD
Spuddish (@SpuddishAF) April 29, 2025

But this premium service has also raised eyebrows as, despite being a drone delivery initiative, it still requires the need for, as one X user put it, "low-cost labour".

"You can bring automation to India, but still can’t take away the low-cost labour. Look at the ‘How it works’ for the first drone delivery initiative in India," entrepreneur Samit Singh (@kumarsamit) shared on X with a screenshot of the society notice.

You can bring automation to India but still cant take away the low cost labour. Look at the How it works for the first drone delivery initiative in India. pic.twitter.com/w3y6dqNAiOSamit Singh (@kumarsamit) May 1, 2025

But neither was this country's first drone delivery service, nor was it the first such service to be launched in Bengaluru this month. A hyperlocal drone delivery network, Skye Air, has also launched its ultra-fast service in the city, making it the second city in India, after Gurugram, to adopt advanced drone logistics. The company promised delivery in seven minutes in the Konankunte and Kanakapura Road areas, Business Standard reported.

"Our expansion into Bengaluru signifies a rapid demand for eco-friendly and faster delivery solutions that benefit both businesses and consumers,” Ankit Kumar, founder and CEO of Skye Air, stated. “With each drone flight, we are not just improving efficiency — we are paving the way for a cleaner, greener, and smarter future of logistics.”

He added that this is the start of a nationwide shift in commerce, where deliveries via drones become the norm, not the exception.