The Telangana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with quick-commerce company Zepto to establish five Project PRAGATI Centres across Hyderabad for gig and platform workers. The initiative is aimed at providing basic amenities to workers who spend a significant portion of their working hours travelling across the city for deliveries. The proposed centres will cater to workers associated with quick commerce, food delivery, e-commerce, apparel and other last-mile delivery services. The project seeks to address some of the basic infrastructure challenges faced by gig workers while they are on duty.

The PRAGATI Centres are expected to provide dedicated spaces where gig workers can take a break during their working day. The facilities will include areas for resting, along with phone-charging points and Wi-Fi connectivity. Such amenities are intended to give delivery workers a place where they can temporarily move away from the roads and recover before continuing their work. The initiative reflects the growing need for urban infrastructure that considers workers whose jobs require them to remain mobile for long periods.

Gig and platform workers have become an important part of Hyderabad’s urban delivery network, supporting the movement of food, groceries, online purchases and other products across the city. Their work often requires them to spend extended hours outdoors and travel continuously between different locations. Unlike conventional workplaces, delivery workers generally do not have a fixed facility where they can sit, rest or access basic services during their shifts. The proposed PRAGATI Centres are intended to provide such spaces and improve access to basic amenities while workers remain engaged in their daily delivery operations.

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The centres will not be restricted to workers employed by a single delivery platform. According to the initiative, workers from quick-commerce companies, food-delivery services, e-commerce businesses, apparel delivery networks and other last-mile operations will be able to benefit from the facilities. This broader approach is intended to make the centres useful to the wider gig-worker community operating across Hyderabad. The collaboration between the Telangana Government and Zepto therefore focuses on creating shared urban infrastructure rather than facilities limited to one particular category of delivery worker.

The project comes amid the rapid expansion of platform-based work in Indian cities, where delivery personnel play a key role in supporting digital commerce and on-demand services. While these services provide convenience to consumers, workers operating on the ground often face challenges associated with spending much of their working day on the road. Access to rest areas, connectivity and phone charging can be particularly useful for workers who depend on mobile devices to receive orders, navigate routes and communicate with customers or platforms. The proposed centres are aimed at responding to some of these practical requirements.

The establishment of five PRAGATI Centres across Hyderabad marks an effort by the Telangana Government and Zepto to provide dedicated urban support infrastructure for gig and platform workers. The centres are expected to offer a place for workers to rest and access essential facilities while continuing their daily duties across the city. The initiative could also provide a model for how governments and private companies can work together to address infrastructure needs arising from the growth of platform-based employment. Further details on the locations and operational arrangements of the five centres were not provided in the information available.

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