Running on Wheels, The Food Delivery Workers of Bangalore
Image Source: The New Indian Express
It’s been a month since Rapido has been banned in Karnataka, which means more riders shifted to food delivery. On any given day in Bangalore, countless delivery workers who work for their families zip through traffic, cut through BMTC buses, dodge potholes, and fight the unpredictable weather of the city. With their company-given backpacks and tired eyes, they bring hot biryani to our doorsteps, filter coffee to our office desks, and birthday cakes any time we want. But who are these people behind the easy-to-use apps? What do they do when they are not delivering our favorite food?
This article delves into the lives of Bangalore’s food delivery workers — a community bound not just by profession, but by shared hustle and hardship.
Our mood and a tap on the screen decide their journey –
Many people who belong to other states come to Bangalore to find some job, but with time, the desperation — a layoff, a financial emergency, or simply the inability to break into Bangalore’s formal job market — leaves them with very limited options. With platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Dunzo offering easy applications for everyone, thousands have already entered the field. The job requires a smartphone, a bike, a license, and the desire to work long, irregular hours.
Shivam, a 22-year-old from Coimbatore, came to Bangalore to become an electronics engineer. While I asked him about his goal, “Who wants to be delivering food?” he said, while handing me my fresh Domino’s pizza. “But bro, as you know how COVID affected business shops, I had to earn.” He delivers for both Zomato and Swiggy simultaneously, just to earn a few extra rupees.
A common day for them
Their day has no sunrise or sunset like most of us. Many delivery workers begin around 6 or 7 AM, often skipping breakfast to catch the first wave order of dosa and filter coffee. Lunch is any cheap roadside meal or either skipped during peak days. Evenings are usually the busiest due to traffic and a higher number of orders.
Weekends are very tough, says Nagendra. “My bike is more home to me rather than my actual home. I often rest sitting on my bike near Hulimavu.”
Bangalore roads are not just tough to ride on due to traffic but also due to waterlogged streets, speeding vehicles, and unpredictable rain. The condition of roads not only affects safety but also delivery time, which affects the payout of the workers. Areas like Hulimavu, for instance, have become a nightmare to navigate. The metro construction area near the Hulimavu signal is no less than a warzone for those who operate in the Bannerghatta belt.
And refusing orders can also mean reduced ratings and fewer incentives from the apps — a catch they’re forced to live with.
Hustle Without Protection
Despite working 10 to 14 hours a day, many delivery partners struggle to make ends meet. The average earning varies from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month depending on the zone, platform, and hours put in. While the apps advertise incentives and bonuses, they often come with unrealistic targets.
There’s a ‘pick rate’ system. The more orders you deliver, the better your chance at bonuses.
The Mental Weight No One Sees
It’s not just physical exhaustion. Delivery workers carry emotional weight too — from rude customers and late-night trips to isolated addresses, to constantly fearing app bans for reasons often outside their control. Customer ratings decide a delivery worker’s fate. A single complaint — even if false — can lead to suspension. Female workers, a tiny minority in this male-dominated field, face even more challenges. While platforms have started gender inclusion campaigns, harassment and safety concerns continue.
Unionising the Gig
In response to mounting pressure and poor working conditions, delivery workers in Bangalore have begun to organise. The Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Gig Workers’ Association have been leading the charge for rights, insurance, minimum wage guarantees, and policy-level protection.
Last year, several hundred delivery workers protested outside Swiggy’s Bangalore office.
Community in the Chaos
Yet, amid all this, a unique camaraderie exists. Delivery workers form WhatsApp groups to share traffic updates, tips on order-rich zones, or just moral support. When a worker gets injured, others often pool in funds to help. There are chai stalls and cigarette corners in Electronic City and HSR Layout where workers gather for short breaks and longer conversations.
One such chai adda near Silk Board is famous among Swiggy riders. “We call it ‘Headquarters’,” jokes one. Here, stories are exchanged — some funny, some heartbreaking. Jokes about impossible customers. Updates on who got married. Warnings about app changes. There’s even a running competition on who has the funniest delivery story.
What Must Change
What’s needed is a threefold approach:
- Policy Reform
- Platform Accountability
- Public Empathy
The food arrives hot and fast. The delivery is on time. The app shows a smiley face. But behind that convenience is a person who is possibly wet from rain, hungry from skipping meals, or bruised from a fall.
In Bangalore’s race toward becoming India’s digital capital, its food delivery workers ride silently on the margins, navigating hope and hardship, one order at a time.
About Authors: Prakhar and Varad are second-year B.A. Media and Journalism students in the Department of Media Studies at Christ University, Bangalore. Passionate about storytelling, media ethics, and current affairs, they aim to bring accurate and engaging narratives to the forefront through their work.
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