Bengaluru Residents Need Not Step Out, Essentials To Be Home Delivered

With the lockdown to fight coronavirus extended till May 3, residents of Bengaluru now need not step out even for essential items - everything that they need can be home delivered. Bengaluru Urban has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka and the city has 38 hotspots with restrictions in place. This home delivery may just help in curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus, particularly with people not always maintaining social distancing when our shopping for essentials. 

"You don't have to step out of your homes for purchasing groceries. The Home Delivery (080-61914960) service is now extended to all the areas of Bengaluru," tweeted Bengaluru Mayor M Goutham Kumar.

You don't have to step out of your homes for purchasing groceries. The Home Delivery (080-61914960) service is now extended to all the areas of #Bengaluru.

Shop owners must compulsorily register their shops by sending a message on Whatsapp.

Please follow these???? instructions: pic.twitter.com/0S9d7BCopt

— M Goutham Kumar (@BBMP_MAYOR) April 15, 2020

"We are connecting all the shops with essential items. 1,968 shops have been identified in the south. Geo mapping has been done. One single number has been given and a person can dial that number and get any item required at the doorstep... It will go to the whole city... Whichever shop is interested can register. We have issues an advertisement also. Hopefully in another two days we will have the list of all the shops, medical shops. The only agenda behind this is - we don't want them to come out," said the Mayor.

 "It is better to stay at home. Just use this BBMP app and get the delivery at the home," said a Bengaluru resident, Anil.

Another resident, Ashok Sharma, said, "It is very useful. Otherwise we have to ask police permission to go out. We have to go evening and morning. The app will be great... It is great if what we need comes home."

Last week, a pilot scheme was started in Kathriguppe in south Bengaluru. This was later extended to the whole of the southern part of the city under Bengaluru South police station limits on Sunday. 

The launch was attended by state Revenue Minister R Ashok, MP for Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya of the BJP and the city mayor. 

A release from the office of Tejasvi Surya says, "The Bengaluru South Police Division limit covers three assembly constituencies - Basavanagudi, Jayanagar and Padmanabhnagar - and certain wards of Chickpet assembly constituency. Citizens from these localities can call the COVID-19 Home Delivery Helpline, set up by the Task Force of Tejasvi Surya, on 080 6191 4960."

"They may also place their orders by sending a 'Hi' on the same number. Over 2.5 lakh households residing in these areas can order groceries, medicines, fruits and vegetables through the helpline. The home delivery charges have been waived off currently and the purchases items would be delivered within a day," the release adds.

Under the scheme, shop owners must compulsorily register their shops by sending a message on WhatsApp.