Telangana Govt, Zepto to Open 5 PRAGATI Rest Centres for Gig Workers in Hyderabad

The Telangana Government and quick-commerce company Zepto have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish five Project PRAGATI Centres across Hyderabad to provide basic facilities for gig and platform workers.

The centres will offer dedicated resting spaces for workers operating across quick commerce, food delivery, e-commerce, apparel, and other last-mile delivery networks. The project is designed to address gaps in urban infrastructure encountered by workers who spend the majority of their working hours on the road.

The intervention follows findings from a 2024 HeatWatch survey of 166 gig and platform workers in Hyderabad. That survey found that nearly 69% of workers lacked access to clean washrooms, while more than 80% had no access to shaded resting spaces or cooling facilities while working.

Each PRAGATI Centre will provide an all-weather resting area, drinking water, washrooms, first-aid support, mobile charging stations, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The facilities will also host periodic health camps and facilitate awareness and registration support for eligible gig and unorganised workers under the e-Shram portal.

Zepto will fund and maintain the five centres on an ongoing basis. Specific locations will be jointly identified by the Telangana government and Zepto, with each centre anticipated to handle hundreds of worker visits depending on where it is situated.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government, Metropolitan Area & Urban Development Department, said following the MoU exchange that gig and platform workers are an increasingly important segment of Hyderabad's urban economy and that the city must address their everyday infrastructure requirements.

Zepto Chief Operating Officer Vikas Sharma said the company is using Project PRAGATI to extend the facilities already provided to its delivery partners across its store network to gig workers across platforms.