Pune, June 10, 2025 – In a significant move signaling intensified scrutiny of quick‑commerce operations, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business license of a Blinkit dark store located in Balewadi, Pune. The decision came after a surprise inspection on June 5, revealing multiple regulatory and safety breaches.
Key Findings
The unit, operated by M/s Energy Darkstore Services for Blinkit, was found to be functioning without a valid FSSAI license required under Section 31(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Inspectors flagged serious hygiene issues: food stored on the floor and dusty racks, lack of pest-control audit records, uncalibrated cold storage units, and staff not wearing protective headgear.
FDA’s Response
The FDA issued an immediate stop-business order, directing Blinkit to halt all food-related operations at the Balewadi location until it submits required documentation and undergoes a successful re‐inspection .
Joint FDA Commissioner Suresh Annapure emphasized that without proper licensing and safety measures, the facility cannot resume operations.
Regulatory Crackdown Intensifies
The action follows a similar suspension at Zepto’s dark store in Mumbai’s Dharavi, where authorities discovered fungal growth on stored food, expired stock amid unsanitary conditions, and poorly maintained cold storage.
Maharashtra’s FDA is now closely inspecting quick‑commerce dark stores statewide, asserting that food safety regulations apply equally to e‑commerce and brick‑and‑mortar operations.
Ripple Effects
The sudden closure disrupted local logistics: Blinkit delivery personnel have been rerouted to other stores, impacting delivery times and earnings.
Consumers in the vicinity have reported delays, with delivery times increasing from about 8 minutes to nearly 15 minutes.
Blinkit’s Next Steps
Blinkit has yet to issue a formal statement. The FDA has requested compliance documentation, after which a re-inspection will determine whether the license is reinstated.
Bottom line:
The FDA’s clampdown on Blinkit’s Balewadi store highlights growing regulatory oversight of ultra-fast delivery platforms in Maharashtra. As consumers gain convenience, authorities are stepping in to ensure that speed does not compromise food safety.
