Swiggy, one of India’s leading food and grocery delivery platforms, has temporarily suspended its hyperlocal pickup-and-drop service, Swiggy Genie, across several major cities. The move comes shortly after the company ramped up its 10-minute food delivery service, Swiggy Bolt.
Once operational in over 70 cities, Swiggy Genie has now disappeared from the app for most users. Even for those who still see the service listed, attempting to book it results in a “temporarily unavailable” message.
Swiggy has not issued any official press release regarding the suspension. However, in responses to customer complaints on X (formerly Twitter), the company explained that “operational constraints” had led to the temporary halt of Genie services.
Swiggy also clarified that while there’s no specific timeline for Genie’s return, internal teams are working on resolving the issue to bring the service back online.
At present, Swiggy Genie remains unavailable in several major urban centres including:
Bengaluru
Delhi-NCR
Mumbai
Pune
These are key markets where the service was frequently used for hyperlocal deliveries such as document transfers, forgotten items, or small parcels.
This is not the first time Swiggy has taken Genie offline. In 2022, the company paused operations in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, citing increased pressure on its core food delivery and quick commerce business, Swiggy Instamart.
Back then, the decision was seen as a way to allocate more delivery personnel and infrastructure to high-demand services, especially during periods of peak usage.
The timing of Genie’s suspension aligns closely with Swiggy’s recent expansion of Bolt, its 10-minute food delivery vertical. Launched in October 2024, Swiggy Bolt now operates in 500 cities, including Tier-II and Tier-III towns.
Bolt focuses on delivering select ready-to-eat meals within a 2-kilometre radius from partner restaurants. The service guarantees delivery within 10 minutes and has grown rapidly. It now accounts for more than 10% of total orders on Swiggy and has partnered with over 45,000 restaurants, including major quick-service chains like:
KFC
McDonald’s
Subway
Burger King
Faasos
Curefoods
While Swiggy doubles down on ultra-fast delivery, rival Zomato recently announced the shutdown of two of its own offerings: the Quick 15-minute food delivery and Everyday homestyle meals. CEO Deepinder Goyal explained in a shareholder letter that both verticals failed to generate sufficient demand.
Zomato’s retreat underlines the challenging economics and logistical hurdles of hyperlocal and ultrafast delivery models, especially in a price-sensitive and congested urban landscape like India.
Swiggy is set to report its March quarter financial results on May 9. In the previous quarter (October–December 2024), the company posted a 31% year-on-year revenue growth, totaling ₹3,993 crore. However, losses widened to ₹799 crore, up from ₹594 crore in the corresponding quarter the previous year.
Investors and analysts will be closely watching the company’s strategy for balancing rapid expansion, service diversification, and profitability amid growing competition and rising operational costs.
Conclusion
Swiggy's decision to suspend its Genie hyperlocal delivery service highlights the growing operational pressures in India's fast-evolving delivery ecosystem. While the company has not provided a definitive timeline for Genie's return, its strategic focus appears to be shifting towards scaling high-demand verticals like Bolt, its 10-minute food delivery service. As competition intensifies and profitability remains elusive for hyperlocal logistics, Swiggy is likely realigning its resources to services with stronger customer traction and better unit economics. The upcoming financial results on May 9 may offer more clarity on the company’s long-term roadmap and its evolving priorities in the hyperlocal and quick-commerce space.