Amazon India intends to increase the number of “Ashray” centers—specific rest areas for all delivery colleagues within the e-commerce and logistics ecosystem—to 100. Clean drinking water, electrolytes, mobile charging stations, air-conditioned seats, restrooms, first-aid kits, and snack facilities for delivery staff are all features of these centres.
Amazon’s announcement, which presently has more than 30 such centres, becomes relevant since the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of hotter-than-normal temperatures from April to June, coupled with more heatwave days in central and eastern India and the northwest plains.
The high temperatures in the capital have led to the opening of ten additional centres in Delhi-NCR. Not just delivery partners in Amazon’s own network can use the facilities. Associates in the logistics and e-commerce sectors have access to these facilities.
This program, which is a first for the industry, is to provide specialised restrooms for delivery coworkers and logistics partners in areas with heavy traffic. Even though Amazon currently funds the centres, the e-commerce giant is open to the idea of other companies collaborating in the future to grow this even further and make it sustainable.
These centres are equipped with basic amenities and are located next to petrol stations and commercial rental spaces. All visiting delivery colleagues have free access to Ashray centres for a maximum of 30 minutes per visit, and they are open seven days a week from 9 am to 9 pm. In addition to offering cosy parking, the centres have space for up to 15 people at once.
