Bike taxi startup Rapido partners with Bigbasket, others to deliver essential supplies

Bengaluru headquartered bike taxi startup Rapido has joined hands with hyperlocal grocery services providers BigBasket, Big Baazar and Spencer’ Retail to aid in last mile delivery.

The partnership is formed to help in delivering essential supplies amid the 21-days lockdown imposed by the central government. 

“We are happy to join hands with Big Basket, Big Bazar and Spencer’s Retail to aid the last-mile deliveries of orders to customers across more than 90 cities in the country. 70% of our fleet of captains (driver-partners) are on-ground in order to facilitate supplies,” according to the statement.

The bike taxi platform had shut operations due to the lockdown.

Read: How shared mobility startups are stepping up efforts against Covid-19

The company revealed that it will not charge any commission from the driver-partners, and will also abide by the guidelines laid down by the government and health authorities during the commute of its captains amid lockdown.

Additionally, Rapido is in talks with Grofers, Dunzo, and FreshtoHome, among others to help with deliveries.

Online platforms that deliver groceries have witnessed an unprecedented increase in demand since the start of the nationwide lockdown on March 25. Both BigBasket and Grofers have ramped up their recruitment drive for delivery and warehouse staff.

Ride-hailing major Uber, which is also shut due to the lockdown, recently announced its entry into last-mile delivery services through a partnership with BigBasket. 

In India, a total of 3,666 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed and 109 people have died so far,  according to the Ministry of Family and Health Welfare (MoFHW).

Read: Live updates on Covid-19 crisis in India

Several organisations, private and public companies have come together to fight the pandemic.

Google recently pledged $6.5 mn to curb the spread of Covid-19 misinformation. Last week, the government rolled out an app Arogya Setu, to help people to self-assess their risk of being infected with Covid-19.

The Indian startup community and its connected system of stakeholders have created a Rs 100 crore grant to support ideas and solutions fighting Covid-19. Named Action Covid-19 Team (ACT), the programme comprises founders from leading startups, members of investment advisory firms in India and independent investors.