Amazon India has announced a major expansion of its Ashray network, a dedicated initiative aimed at improving the wellbeing and working conditions of delivery drivers across India. The company plans to increase the network to 250 centres by the end of 2026, significantly expanding from the existing 100 facilities currently operational across major Indian cities.
As part of the expansion plan, Amazon India intends to launch 50 additional centres by the end of May, further strengthening access to rest and recovery facilities for delivery workers navigating long hours and extreme weather conditions.
The Ashray initiative comes at a time when India’s rapidly growing e-commerce and quick-commerce sectors are witnessing increasing focus on workforce welfare, especially during intense summer months when temperatures in several regions regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Ashray is Amazon India’s network of specially designed rest centres created for delivery drivers across the industry, including workers who are not directly associated with Amazon’s delivery network.
The centres are equipped with a wide range of facilities aimed at improving driver comfort, hydration, safety, and rest during delivery routes.
The centres provide:
These centres are designed to offer delivery personnel a safe and accessible place to rest, recharge, and recover during demanding work schedules, particularly during heatwave conditions and peak delivery periods.
According to the company, the existing 100 Ashray centres spread across 16 cities in India have already recorded more than one million visits from delivery drivers across the industry in 2025.
In addition to fixed-location centres, Amazon India has introduced mobile Ashray units to improve accessibility for delivery workers operating on busy urban routes.
The mobile units are air-conditioned vans stationed strategically along high-traffic delivery corridors, allowing drivers to access essential facilities without having to travel to a permanent centre.
The mobile units include:
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that delivery personnel can receive hydration and rest support quickly and conveniently while remaining close to their delivery routes.
Industry experts say mobile rest infrastructure could become increasingly important in India’s rapidly expanding last-mile delivery ecosystem, where workers often spend long hours outdoors under challenging weather conditions.
Commenting on the expansion, Salim R Memon, director, operations, Amazon India, said:
“Scaling to 250 centres and taking these facilities directly to delivery drivers through our mobile units is a reflection of that commitment,” said Salim R Memon, director, operations, Amazon India. “This is also part of our broader investment of over Rs 2,800 crore to strengthen associate safety, health, and wellbeing across our operations network.”
The statement highlights Amazon’s larger efforts to improve operational safety, workforce wellbeing, and infrastructure support throughout its logistics and delivery ecosystem in India.
The company’s investment of more than Rs 2,800 crore is being directed toward multiple safety and employee welfare initiatives across fulfilment centres, delivery stations, and transportation operations.
To establish new Ashray centres, Amazon is collaborating with several third-party organizations and public-sector entities.
The company is working with:
These partnerships are helping Amazon expand the rest network more efficiently across urban and semi-urban areas.
Experts say such collaborations may also help improve access to public infrastructure and community-based support systems for gig and logistics workers.
India’s e-commerce market continues to grow rapidly, fueled by rising smartphone adoption, digital payments, and increasing consumer demand for fast delivery services.
With millions of delivery workers now forming the backbone of the country’s logistics ecosystem, companies are increasingly facing pressure to improve working conditions, safety standards, and access to basic amenities.
Extreme weather conditions, traffic congestion, long work hours, and physical fatigue remain major challenges for delivery personnel across the industry.
In recent years, several logistics and technology companies have introduced initiatives focused on:
Amazon’s Ashray expansion reflects a broader shift toward workforce-centered infrastructure in India’s gig economy.
Amazon India’s decision to expand its Ashray network to 250 centres by the end of 2026 highlights the growing importance of workforce wellbeing in the country’s rapidly evolving e-commerce and logistics sector.
By offering air-conditioned rest centres, hydration support, mobile recovery units, and essential amenities, the company aims to improve the working environment for delivery drivers navigating demanding schedules and harsh weather conditions.
The initiative also reflects a broader industry trend toward prioritizing safety, health, and operational support for gig and delivery workers. As India’s digital commerce ecosystem continues to expand, such infrastructure investments could play an increasingly important role in building a more sustainable and worker-friendly logistics network.