In India, fast deliveries thrill customers but exhaust drivers
New Delhi and Mumbai — On New Year’s Eve, when much of urban India was stocking up for late-night celebrations with a few taps on a smartphone, tens of thousands of the workers powering those instant deliveries were off the roads. App-based delivery riders across major cities went on strike, pushing back against a system they say demands speed at the cost of safety, dignity and basic fairness.
At the heart of the protest is a marketing promise that has come to define India’s booming “quick commerce” industry: groceries delivered in under 10 minutes. For customers, it is a marvel of convenience. For riders navigating congested streets, unpredictable traffic and poorly planned urban infrastructure, it has become a source of constant stress. Workers say the promise forces them to race against the clock, often risking accidents to meet unrealistic deadlines.
The striking delivery partners are demanding fair pay, safer working conditions and respect. One of their key demands is an immediate ban on the ultra-fast delivery guarantee, which commits platforms to delivering orders within a roughly three-kilometre radius in just 10 minutes. In cities like Delhi and Mumbai, where traffic jams, road diversions and chaotic intersections are part of daily life, riders argue that such targets are not just unreasonable but dangerous.
Adding to their frustration are automated systems that govern their work. Delivery platforms rely heavily on algorithms to assign orders, track performance and impose penalties. Workers say even minor delays — caused by traffic snarls, restaurant wait times or bad weather — can lead to reduced ratings, fewer future orders or sudden cuts in pay. Because these systems operate with little transparency, riders often have no way to contest penalties or explain circumstances beyond their control.
Social security is another major concern. Many delivery workers are classified as “partners” or independent contractors rather than employees, leaving them without benefits such as health insurance, paid leave or pensions. The striking workers are calling for comprehensive social protection, pointing out that a single accident or illness can wipe out their income overnight. For riders who spend long hours on the road, often on two-wheelers in hazardous conditions, the absence of a safety net is a constant source of anxiety.
According to the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers, which organised the strike, more than 200,000 workers took part nationwide. Protests and work stoppages were reported in multiple cities, highlighting the scale of discontent in an industry that has grown rapidly over the past few years.
Quick commerce is not unique to India, but its impact here is shaped by the country’s economic realities. India has a population of about 1.4 billion, and nearly a million new jobseekers enter the labour market every month. For many, app-based delivery work offers a rare opportunity for immediate income with few entry barriers. This abundance of labour, workers argue, has allowed platforms to impose harsh conditions with little fear of losing their workforce.
Industry experts note that fierce competition among delivery apps has fuelled the race for ever-faster deliveries. Companies vie for customer loyalty through speed, often passing the pressure down the chain to riders. While consumers enjoy unprecedented convenience, the human cost of that convenience is becoming increasingly visible.
As the strike unfolded over the holiday period, it forced many customers to confront an uncomfortable truth: behind every 10-minute delivery is a worker under intense pressure. For the riders on strike, the message is simple. Convenience should not come at the expense of their lives, livelihoods and dignity.