Blinkit introduces a ₹2,500 fee for non-emergency ambulance trips, while emergency rides remain free
NEW DELHI: Blinkit Ambulance will now charge a flat fee of ₹2,500 for non-emergency transfers, while emergency ambulance services will continue to remain completely free. The change was announced by Eternal founder Deepinder Goyal on Thursday.
The decision comes after the service observed a growing number of bookings for routine medical needs that do not require a fully equipped emergency ambulance with trained paramedics.
Why the Change Was Made
In a post on X, Goyal explained that with the service being entirely free, a significant share of bookings were for routine check-ups, hospital visits and hospital-to-home transfers, journeys that could easily be handled by private taxis or regular transport.
“Every such booking keeps a fully equipped emergency ambulance with paramedics off the road when someone’s life may depend on it,” he said.
Over the past two years, Blinkit Ambulance has handled approximately 42,000 cases, including nearly 20,000 genuine emergencies, without charging patients.
New Pricing Structure
• Emergency transfers will remain free of charge.
• Non-emergency transfers will attract a fee of ₹2,500, payable after the trip.
Goyal noted that the charge is broadly in line with rates charged by private ambulance operators. The proceeds will go to the Eternal Foundation, which runs the ambulance service, and will be used to support its expansion.
He expressed hope that the fee would significantly reduce non-emergency usage and keep the 10-minute ambulances available for critical situations that need them the most.
Goyal also highlighted the difficulties in scaling the service. The biggest bottleneck, he said, is the availability of trained and empathetic paramedics. The company’s training academy is expanding as quickly as possible while maintaining quality standards.
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa and his team aim to take the ambulance service to all major Indian cities over the next two to four years.
The service, which began operations in Gurugram, has been positioned as a rapid-response option designed to improve access to emergency medical care.
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