Instant food delivery raises questions on delivery risks for workers

There is real rush in the lane of companies lining up for express delivery. As companies accelerate towards the hot new format of 'minimum time' taken to deliver your order it has sparked a debate on the safety and security of delivery personnel and the need for regulation to protect those delivering the rushed orders.

Also read/watch | Zomato goes instant! 10-minute food delivery soon, this is how it will work

In Parliament Karti P Chidambaram, Congress MP urged the govt to oversee regulation as he put the spotlight on safety of the gig economy workers that do not have any insurance or assurance from the employers. “They have this pressure to have a quicker Turnaround Time (TAT) in order to boost the valuation of the companies that technically do not employ them, resulting in accidents as they carry loads not meant for personal vehicles."

Also read/watch | Do this before March 31 else your PAN Card will become inactive

But the Congress MP is not the only one raising a voice of concern, Sanjay Pandey, Mumbai Police Commissioner has also stated that they have asked companies to ensure that the delivery boys adhere to traffic rules and do not ride at high speeds or on the footpaths. Police have further asked representatives to ensure that the delivery boys have proper uniforms and that they are not carrying excessive goods on their motorcycles.

Zomato however reassured as it launched it's 10 minute food delivery service plan that "time optimisation will not be done on the road...and safety of delivery personnel will be prioritised."

Also read/watch | Maruti Suzuki to start manufacturing electric cars soon in India

A World Bank report states that India had a death every four minutes on its roads. Crashes kill about 1.5 lakh people each year in the country. Last year the safety and insurance offered for delivery personnel took centre stage after a Zomato executive, Salil Tripathy was killed in a road accident while out for delivery.