PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The gig workers associated with quick-commerce platforms in Dehradun have expressed relief after the scrapping of the 10-minute delivery system, citing safety risks, financial losses and grinding work pressure.
A Blinkit rider, Himanshu Kumar said that the 10-minute delivery model had been neither profitable nor safe for the riders. “The pressure to meet the unrealistic timelines led to frequent accidents, leaving many riders with fractures and serious injuries, while the companies they work for failed to take concrete action,” he said and added that the order cancellations and customer abuse often resulted in ID blocking and penalties of around Rs 350, leaving them next to nothing from an average daily earning of Rs 500.
Kumar further alleged that the riders had to pay for basic gear like jackets, T-shirts and delivery bags and despite accidents or vehicle breakdowns, medical expenses were not reimbursed. “The insurance only compensates in case of death,” he said, adding that expecting 5–10 minute deliveries in traffic-heavy areas of Dehradun was unsafe and impractical.
Echoing the same relief over the termination of the unrealistic timeline system, an Instamart rider, Mohan Pal said that the delays would often force the riders to repeatedly apologise to customers. “Some would understand while others would scream at us,” he said, pointing to heavy traffic, especially near the Rispana stretch, Ghanta Ghar and Bindal Chowk where riders remained stuck at traffic lights for nearly half an hour every time. “Neither customers nor companies would acknowledge these ground realities, accentuating our agony, humiliation and loss,” he added.
A Zepto rider, Sumit Verma said that the system used to push the riders to over-speed and violate traffic rules to meet the deadlines. “This spiked accidents and injuries involving us,” he said, adding that the delayed deliveries led to the customers’ abuse as well as the mangers’ scolding, increasing their mental stress and endangering their jobs.
An Instamart manager, Sanju Sagar while talking to this correspondent said that the 10-minute delivery model has now been shifted to a 15-minute system. “The earlier timeline forced the riders to rush and even jump traffic signals, increasing accident risks. With the new system in place, deliveries are now safer and more manageable,” he said, adding that the earlier delays would lead to payment deductions, frequent complaints and negative feedback from customers due to unmet delivery promises.
Some consumers, however, strike a different note. Navdeep Yadav, a resident, for instance, said that he opted for online delivery mainly because of its speed. “If there is no 10-minute delivery, I would rather go to a nearby Kinara store and buy things at a much cheaper rate,” he said, asserting that the earlier timeline used to force him to go for the online platforms despite higher charges involved.
