Zomato and its quick-commerce arm Blinkit delivered more than 75 lakh orders on New Year’s Eve, marking an all-time high, even as sections of gig workers had called for nationwide strikes, founder Deepinder Goyal said on Thursday.
In a statement, Goyal said operations across both platforms remained unaffected by strike calls, with delivery activity continuing at a record pace. According to him, over 4.5 lakh delivery partners collectively served more than 63 lakh customers on December 31, supported by coordination with local law enforcement agencies to prevent disruptions.
“This happened without any additional incentives beyond what is typically offered on New Year’s Eve,” Goyal said, adding that payouts on the day were in line with incentives historically provided during past year-end peaks.
He expressed gratitude to local authorities and internal teams for ensuring smooth operations and thanked delivery partners for continuing to work despite what he described as intimidation attempts. Goyal also stated that the scale and consistency of participation reflect the strength of the gig economy model, noting that platform-based work remains one of India’s largest sources of organised job creation.
Gig workers’ strike backdrop
The delivery surge came against the backdrop of a nationwide strike call on December 31, 2025, issued by multiple gig and platform worker unions seeking better pay structures, safety measures, and working conditions. Earlier, on December 25, delivery workers in parts of Telangana and other regions had logged off platforms as part of protest actions.
Unions said the strike was escalated due to a lack of response from platform companies following earlier protests, citing concerns over declining earnings and work pressures.
Incentives during peak demand
During the year-end rush, Zomato offered higher-than-usual New Year’s Eve payouts, a practice the company said is part of its standard festive operating protocol. Delivery partners were offered peak-hour payouts between ₹120 and ₹150 per order, along with temporary relaxations on penalties for rejections and cancellations.
Swiggy also increased incentives during the same period to ensure rider availability amid high demand, reiterating that such measures are routine during major festivals and peak consumption days.
Big picture
Despite labour unrest in parts of the gig ecosystem, New Year’s Eve 2025 turned out to be one of the busiest single days ever for food delivery and quick commerce platforms in India, highlighting strong consumer demand during festive periods and the operational scale achieved by major platforms.
