India's Dark Stores Skyrocket: 75M Sq Ft Demand by 2030

India's quick commerce industry is poised for substantial growth, with an anticipated demand for 75 million sq ft of urban logistics space by 2030. This projection, reported by CBRE, stems from the rapid expansion of dark stores and the establishment of mother hubs.

Of the total requirement, 42 million sq ft will be dedicated to in-city dark stores, which are crucial for rapid delivery. An additional 33 million sq ft will be needed for mother hubs, larger facilities located on city outskirts that serve as replenishment centers for multiple dark stores. By 2030, the network is expected to grow from approximately 7,800 dark stores in 2026 to over 12,000.

The demand for quick commerce warehousing has surged, growing at an 81% CAGR between 2021 and 2025. While this demand is currently concentrated in metropolitan areas like Delhi-NCR (21%), Mumbai (20%), and Bengaluru (17%), operators are increasingly exploring tier-II and tier-III cities such as Jaipur and Coimbatore, attracted by lower real estate costs.

Factors such as ground-floor access, efficient loading arrangements, rider movement, and cold-chain infrastructure will become critical in site selection. The sector is also exploring franchise models, third-party logistics providers, and partnerships with local kirana stores to facilitate expansion into smaller markets and leverage shared fulfillment infrastructure.