Zepto Delivery Partners In Pune’s Viman Nagar Raise Hygiene And Safety Concerns
Reported by Radhika Sharma
Viman Nagar, August 12, 2026: If your Zepto delivery partner was delayed in delivering your order today, the rains may not have been the only reason.
In Viman Nagar today, near Dorabjee’s, Zepto delivery partners held a strike, raising concerns over the facilities available to them at the New Viman Nagar Zepto dark store.
The concerns raised by the delivery partners include unclean bathrooms, eating areas and rest spaces, garbage around the facility, limited EV charging spots and storage crates being kept outside, which they say makes parking difficult.
According to the delivery partners, these concerns have been communicated to facility managers over the past few months, but they say the issues have not been resolved so far.
A complaint dated August 12, 2026, submitted by Zepto delivery riders from the New Viman Nagar hub to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Labour Commissioner and Zepto Gig Workers Union, also raises concerns over the conditions at the facility. The riders state that some of them have been working at the hub for the last three to four years and allege that their concerns have repeatedly been raised with Hub Management and HR.
The complaint alleges the presence of garbage piles, rats and cockroaches at the hub and claims that deep cleaning has not been carried out for three to four years. The riders have also raised concerns about the availability of benches, drinking water, clean toilets and a rest area.
Rahul Biyade, a delivery partner at Zepto, says, “We’ve been assured by higher authorities that action will be taken within 2-3 days; if that is not the case, we will notify the FDA.”
The delivery partners have also alleged that they faced threats after raising these concerns and indicating that they would approach the Pune FDA.
According to the riders, they were told that they could be removed from the WhatsApp group or have their Zepto Rider IDs blocked, which they say could affect their ability to make deliveries. Similar allegations regarding the blocking of Rider IDs have been included in the written complaint submitted by the riders.
The riders have requested that their IDs should not be blocked on account of complaints and have sought action regarding the alleged threats.
Meanwhile, when asked about claims of expired inventory being stored at the facility, inventory manager Aditya says, “The FDA did visit the facility; the inventory didn’t raise any flags, but a complaint about the exteriors was lodged. Corporate has been notified, and action is expected within a few days.”
The riders’ written complaint separately alleges that expired dairy products, bread, snacks and grocery items were being stored and delivered to customers. The complaint has requested an immediate joint inspection of the hub and action based on the concerns raised.
Security personnel on site, Uttam Pandit, says, “The company has heard their demands. The demands are valid, and the situation is bad.”
The monsoon has added another concern for the delivery partners.
According to them, constant rainfall has made the path to the storage centre difficult to navigate. They also point to the lack of street lights in the area, which they say creates additional safety concerns, particularly during the rainy season.
The delivery partners have sought cleaning of the facility, benches, drinking water and toilet facilities, along with an inspection of the hub. They have also requested a written report on the action taken within seven days.
The complaint was submitted on 12th August and carries signatures from Zepto riders associated with the New Viman Nagar hub.
The matter is now awaiting further action from the concerned authorities and the company.
