Bengaluru’s Prestige Falcon City is redefining quick commerce with a futuristic twist—drone-based deliveries for groceries, medicines, and daily essentials. In partnership with BigBasket and drone logistics firm Skye Air Mobility, the apartment complex now receives packages in as little as five to ten minutes, directly from a nearby storage hub.
The goal? Speed, efficiency, and sustainability—while also reducing the number of delivery agents entering the premises.
How It Works: Seamless, Fast, and Carbon-Conscious
- Orders <7kg are eligible for drone delivery.
- A BigBasket dark store within 5 km of the society processes all orders.
- Drones are operated by Skye Air and have DGCA approvals with satellite-linked tracking.
- A designated staff member receives the drones and handles handovers to residents.
And yes—the cost remains unchanged for customers.
What Makes It Unique?
- No cameras onboard drones—protecting neighbourhood privacy.
- Zero-emission flights, cutting travel radius by half compared to road transport.
- Operational from 7 AM to 8 PM, making it as reliable as regular delivery systems.
“This cuts down traffic congestion inside our gated society and enhances delivery speed,” says Avinash HV of Prestige Falcon City RWA.
Scaling Up: 20 More Societies in 3 Months
Skye Air’s CEO Ankit Kumar revealed plans to expand to 20 more residential complexes across Bengaluru within three months. The areas on their radar include:
- Jayanagar
- Bannerghatta Road
- Electronic City
The company currently operates with 2 drones but is gearing up to deploy 25–30 drones, supported by its upcoming Skye Pod Network—a physical delivery infrastructure for housing societies.
Is Drone Delivery More Efficient?
Absolutely.
- A delivery rider: ~30 deliveries/day
- A drone: ~60 deliveries/day
Kumar adds, “Drones double logistics efficiency and help us extend dark store delivery radii from 1.8 km to 5 km, reducing infrastructure costs.”
The system also relies on 3D-mapped aerial corridors, and coordination with agencies like HAL and DGCA ensures safe operations within green and yellow zones.
Experts Weigh In: Still an Experiment, but Promising
Real estate analyst Gulam Zia of Knight Frank India believes large-scale adoption is still in the pilot phase.
“Without clear policy frameworks, drone use in urban residential zones remains experimental. Infrastructure, safety, and local enforcement are still hurdles.”
Kumar agrees. While drone airspace approvals are secured from civil aviation authorities, local enforcement (like police permissions) under Drone Rules 2021 remains a bottleneck.
The Road Ahead: Coexistence Over Replacement
Drone delivery isn’t a replacement—it’s a complement to traditional quick commerce. As automation improves and sustainability becomes a priority, drone logistics could play a pivotal role in the future of urban delivery ecosystems.
