Mumbai's famed dabbawalas fed millions for over 100 years - now they are disappearing
Mumbai's dabbawalas, known for their efficient lunch delivery system, are facing a significant decline in numbers. The registered dabbawalas have dropped from about 4,500 in 2018 to around 1,500 today, largely due to changes in work habits following the pandemic. As remote and hybrid work models become more common, the demand for their services has sharply decreased.
- ▪The dabbawala system has been in operation for over 100 years, delivering home-cooked meals to office workers in Mumbai.
- ▪The number of registered dabbawalas has decreased significantly from 4,500 in 2018 to roughly 1,500 today.
- ▪The pandemic and the rise of remote work have drastically reduced the demand for dabbawala services.
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| Publication time | Fri, 29 May 2026 23:04:40 GMT |
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Mumbai's famed dabbawalas fed millions for over 100 years - now they are disappearingJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNilesh Dhotre & Shahid SheikhBBC MarathiBloomberg via Getty ImagesThe number of registered dabbawalas has fallen from around 4,500 in 2018 to roughly 1,500 todayEvery morning, before the city has fully woken up, men in white caps and shirts arrive at Mumbai's suburban railway stations on bicycles stacked high with lunchboxes.They load these boxes onto trains, cross the city and then spread out on foot and bikes to deliver hot, home-cooked meals to office workers.
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