Bengaluru Gig Workers' Reckless Driving Sparks Outrage: 'This Is How They Achieve 10-Minute Delivery Target'

Concerns regarding reckless driving by delivery agents in Bengaluru have resurfaced after a viral post captured an agent riding on the pavement.

The increasing frequency of such incidents has sparked outrage among residents, who attribute the issue to the growing pressure of 10-minute deliveries, which they believe endanger pedestrians and other road users.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/Theshashank_p

In response to the post, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) urged citizens to report traffic violations via the BTP Astram portal.

"Please provide the exact location details, or use the Astram portal to report violations. We appreciate you for bringing this to our attention," the department stated.

Users on social media platform X expressed their frustration over the reckless behaviour of delivery riders.

"They look at you as if you're the criminal for walking on the pavement!" one user wrote, highlighting the increasing disregard for pedestrian safety.

Another user criticised delivery riders' impatience at traffic signals. "This is a serious issue. Many cannot wait for just a minute or two for the signal to turn green and instead come up with creative ways to bypass traffic. The biggest offenders are delivery app riders. @BlrCityPolice should impose hefty fines on these companies."

A commuter shared a terrifying experience, saying, "A delivery rider jumped onto my car yesterday-without a helmet, talking on the phone, and making an illegal right turn. I'm just relieved he didn't die. My car is in ruins, which I can repair, but these young men have lost their way, thanks to Blinkit."

Many linked the reckless driving to the pressure of meeting ultra-fast delivery deadlines. "This is how they achieve the 10-minute delivery target," wrote one user, while another sarcastically remarked, "Wait until they start getting a dedicated corridor for 10-minute deliveries."

Bengaluru has seen a rise in traffic violations involving gig economy workers, particularly those from food and grocery delivery services.

According to a Deccan Herald report, in November 2024, the Bengaluru Traffic Police registered a staggering 17,218 cases for various traffic offences, including driving on the wrong side, failure to wear helmets, and jumping signals-many of which involved e-commerce delivery agents.