Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Akhil Chitre has raised serious safety concerns related to delivery personnel working for online food aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto in a strongly worded letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner. The party leader has called for urgent regulatory measures to ensure the safety of the public, following a growing number of complaints involving incidents such as sexual harassment, theft, impersonation, and even murder. Akhil Chitre’s letter stresses the need for accountability and stronger oversight to restore public confidence in these services.
Rising Concerns Over Safety of Delivery Personnel
Akhil Chitre, who heads the IT, Electronics, and Communication Wing of Shiv Sena (UBT), emphasized the increasing number of complaints and criminal activities tied to delivery agents. While acknowledging that these platforms provide convenience, he pointed out that they have become hotbeds for fraud and misconduct. His letter specifically calls for mandatory registration of delivery agents, strict background checks, and a system of accountability for companies employing them. He stressed that if these companies fail to ensure the safety of their delivery personnel, they should be held responsible for any crimes committed by them.
Proposed Solutions to Improve Safety and Transparency
Among the recommendations made by Akhil Chitre is the enforcement of standard uniforms and visible ID cards for delivery agents to avoid impersonation, particularly those using helmets or masks to conceal their identity. He also urged that these platforms standardize training for delivery agents, covering traffic rules, emergency response protocols, and customer etiquette. One of the key concerns raised was the safety of female customers, some of whom have reported receiving obscene messages from delivery personnel. In response, Chitre suggested setting up a dedicated helpline where customers could easily report safety concerns.
The letter also took aim at the business practices of food aggregators, alleging unethical conduct like accepting orders from non-operational restaurants and canceling them under the guise of a “Restaurant Closed” status. Akhil Chitre also criticized the delayed refunds, especially for low-income customers, which he described as exploitative. Furthermore, he highlighted the lack of Marathi language support in customer service helplines despite the widespread use of these services in Maharashtra. Lastly, he raised concerns about food hygiene standards and the transparency of food sources, noting that some platforms like Swiggy do not have a functional office or grievance redressal mechanism in the state.
Akhil Chitre’s letter has reignited the debate over the balance between digital convenience and public safety, urging Mumbai Police to take swift action to ensure that platforms do not compromise citizen safety in their quest for growth.
