Zomato CEO Defends Delivery Partners Over Traffic Violations
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has defended the company’s delivery partners amid criticism that they break traffic rules while trying to fulfill quick-delivery orders. Goyal said that pressure to rush on roads is not unique to delivery workers but reflects a broader societal issue of impatience among road users in India. He rejected the notion that Zomato forces riders to flout traffic laws to meet delivery targets.
Explaining the 10-minute delivery model
Goyal addressed questions about Zomato’s controversial “10-minute delivery” promise, saying that the model is enabled by the density of partner stores and efficient logistics rather than encouraging riders to speed. He clarified that delivery partners do not see a countdown timer for delivery times on their apps and are not penalised for late orders. Goyal said the focus is on providing fast service through system design, not on pushing riders to take unsafe risks.
Strike and operational performance
The remarks come amid recent gig worker strikes called over concerns about pay, job security and working conditions. Despite calls for strikes, Goyal said that many delivery partners continued to work and that Zomato and its quick-commerce arm, Blinkit, recorded very high order volumes during the New Year period. He denied that the system exploits workers and encouraged critics to talk directly with delivery partners to understand their perspectives.
Broader debate on traffic safety
Goyal also noted that traffic rule violations are widespread on Indian roads and not limited to delivery workers. He said visibility of uniformed riders makes their behaviour more noticeable, but similar violations by other motorists often go unobserved. The exchange highlights ongoing debate over gig economy practices, worker safety and road safety norms in India’s fast-growing delivery sector.
