"Providing quick and reliable services...": Blinkit Introduces Rapid Ambulance Service in Gurgaon, Plans Expansion to Other Cities

Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa introduces a new initiative aimed at providing emergency ambulance services in Gurgaon, promising delivery to residents’ doorsteps within just 10 minutes. The service, which builds on Blinkit’s success in rapid grocery delivery, marks the company’s foray into the emergency medical assistance sector. Dhindsa shared the announcement on social media, stating that the company is taking its "first step towards solving the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance services in our cities."

Blinkit has deployed five ambulances in Gurgaon, with plans to expand the service to other areas in the future. Dhindsa explained, "The first five ambulances will be on the road in Gurugram starting today. As we expand the service to more areas, you will start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the @letsblinkit app."

Users of the Blinkit app will now be able to choose the option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance for emergency medical needs. Dhindsa highlighted that the ambulances are equipped with essential medical equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AED (Automated External Defibrillators), monitors, stretchers, suction machines, and various emergency medications. Additionally, each ambulance will have a paramedic, an assistant, and a trained driver ready to provide critical support during emergencies.

Reflecting on the core purpose behind the service, Dhindsa emphasized that the goal is not to generate profit but to provide an affordable, long-term solution to the ambulance shortage in Indian cities. "Profit is not a goal here. We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in really solving this critical problem for the long term," he said.

The company has plans to expand this service across major cities within the next two years. "We are carefully scaling this service up, as it is both important and new to us. Our aim is to expand to all major cities over the next two years," Dhindsa added.

The announcement received widespread praise from social media users, with Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma commenting, "Congratulations Albi! Very well thought-out use case. Expecting it to become fully commercially successful and solve the ambulance issue in many more cities." However, some users expressed concerns about potential challenges, such as the introduction of "surge pricing" during times of high demand.