Platforms roll out rest hubs, cooling gear, insurance, and medical support as delivery workers face rising heatwave risks across India
As intense heatwaves sweep across large parts of India, with temperatures crossing 40°C, concerns are rising over the wellbeing of millions of gig workers who power the country’s fast-growing ecommerce and quick-commerce sectors. Delivery riders, often travelling long hours on two-wheelers through congested city roads, face heightened risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke during the summer months.
Tight delivery timelines and algorithm-driven performance targets leave many of these workers exposed to peak afternoon heat, often without reliable access to drinking water or shaded rest areas. This has intensified scrutiny around working conditions in the gig economy.
In response, leading platforms across food delivery, ecommerce, and quick commerce are rolling out measures to ease the impact of extreme heat. These include the creation of rest facilities, distribution of hydration supplies, and the introduction of cooling gear.
Amazon, which also operates its quick-commerce service Amazon Now, has launched ‘Project Ashray’, a network of 100 air-conditioned rest hubs across major cities. These centres offer seating, washrooms, and first-aid services, and are open even to delivery workers outside Amazon’s network.
“These facilities provide comfortable seating, clean washrooms, drinking water, charging stations, and first-aid support, serving more than 150,000 delivery partners every month, including those outside Amazon’s network. We are also organising free health check-ups through nationwide medical camps to provide preventive health screenings, where doctors advise delivery partners on staying hydrated, recognising early signs of heat exhaustion, and managing health while on the road,” Amazon said in a statement.
Zomato, in partnership with restaurant outlets, TVS, and Shell, has set up over 5,000 rest points offering shade and water, accessible to a wider pool of gig workers. Its delivery partners, along with those of Blinkit, are also covered under a broader health insurance programme that includes OPD and hospitalisation benefits.
BigBasket has introduced designated rest zones within its stores to support delivery staff during the summer. “We have designated rest areas across our store to support delivery partners during the summer period. These areas provide seating, ventilation, and access to drinking water. We are providing summer support supplies at stores, including hydration products such as electrolyte powders, beverages, and similar essentials, based on local operating requirements,” said Aashutosh Taparia, National Head LMD (Last Mile Delivery), bigbasket.
Quick-commerce player Zepto is upgrading its dark stores and hubs with air coolers and heat-reflective roofing to provide relief to riders waiting for orders. According to Chief Operating Officer Vikas Sharma, each store now includes indoor resting spaces with drinking water and washrooms, additional cooling arrangements, and shaded outdoor areas. He added that electrolytes are being provided to both riders and store staff, while insurance coverage includes hospitalisation for heat-related illnesses, with on-ground teams ready to assist when required.
Companies are also experimenting with wearable cooling solutions. Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, along with Swiggy, has introduced cooling vests. Swiggy’s jackets, based on evaporative cooling technology, are designed to reduce body temperature by 6–7°C for a few hours when activated with water.
Zomato is also offering subsidised lightweight sunscreen jackets, while several platforms are distributing summer kits containing ORS, glucose sachets, and electrolyte powders to help workers stay hydrated.
Flipkart has rolled out a “Doctor on Call” service for its wishmasters and their families and is also training frontline staff to identify and respond to early signs of heat-related illnesses, a company spokesperson said. Blinkit, meanwhile, is expanding its free ‘Doctor@Store’ consultation service, while Amazon has introduced a no-cost ambulance support helpline for emergencies.
(With input from agency)
