Ordering food online gets costlier as Swiggy raises platform fee after Zomato hike

Ordering meals online is set to become slightly more expensive, with food delivery platform Swiggy increasing the platform fee it charges users to Rs 17.58 per order, according to details on its app on Tuesday. The move comes days after rival Zomato raised similar charges.Swiggy had last revised its platform fee in September last year. The company has now increased it to Rs 17.58 per order, inclusive of GST, reported PTI. In comparison, Zomato currently charges Rs 14.90 per order on a pre-GST basis.With the latest revision, the effective platform fee charged by both major food delivery players is now broadly at par, at around Rs 17.58 per order. On March 20, Zomato had raised its platform fee by Rs 2.40 to Rs 14.90 per order on a pre-GST basis.Platform fees are fixed, per-order charges levied in addition to delivery and restaurant fees. They are meant to help companies cover operating expenses, including technology maintenance and customer support services.The fresh hike is expected to increase the overall cost of online food ordering for millions of users across the country. The rise in platform fees by Swiggy and Zomato comes amid a broader increase in delivery costs linked to higher crude oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, which is pushing up fuel expenses.