Flipkart has announced a partnership with Uber to provide people across Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi access to everyday essentials amidst the ongoing national lockdown to control coronavirus.

This comes days after Uber announced a new last-mile delivery service and said it was partnering with BigBasket as its first client to address the growing needs of consumers to access everyday essentials amidst the current nationwide lockdown.

Uber said it was deploying a mix of UberGo, UberXL and UberMoto, to support BigBasket in delivering essential supplies safely to consumers’ doorsteps, so they can continue to follow government guidelines asking them to stay at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The company said that its association with BigBasket will comply with all government regulations on hygiene and customers will be served in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Noida.

Flipkart and BigBasket have seen deliveries pick up in recent days after the disruption at the start of the lockdown.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart, said, “This partnership is to help move essential supplies from our sellers/vendors to customers in the shortest possible span of time. Flipkart remains committed to supporting our customers and we are mobilising all possible options to ensure that in this national fight against COVID-19, we can support the governments, by delivering essential supplies to people who are staying indoors.’’

Prabhjeet Singh, Director-Operations and Head of Cities, Uber India & South Asia, said, “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Flipkart today to further consolidate our new last-mile delivery service. The partnership helps keep the economy running and enables Indians to stay at home in line with government guidelines for containing COVID-19, as well as creates earning opportunities for drivers. Uber will not charge any commission, enabling drivers to keep 100 percent of billed amounts.

While the government has said that essential items will be made available during the 21-day lockdown announced to curb the spread of coronavirus, several reports have claimed that even the trucks carrying essential goods are not permitted to move or cross state borders after the centre ordered to seal the borders and check posts.

First Published:Apr 6, 2020 4:05 PM IST