Instamart shifts gears on road safety with QR alerts and free vehicle checks

MUMBAI: When speed meets safety, the road ahead looks a little clearer. To mark National Road Safety Month (1–31, January  2026) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan 2026, Instamart has rolled out a fresh set of on-road safety measures aimed at protecting its delivery partners and improving emergency preparedness.

At the centre of the initiative is a partnership with Vecrep, introducing a two-part programme that combines rapid emergency response with preventive vehicle care. The first pillar is ResQTag, a QR- and NFC-enabled safety solution that allows delivery partners to instantly trigger verified alerts during accidents, breakdowns or roadside emergencies. The system notifies registered emergency contacts without revealing personal phone numbers, prioritising both speed and privacy when seconds matter.

Alongside emergency response, Instamart is offering free safety inspections for delivery partners through Vecrep’s network of verified garages. The inspections provide priority servicing and preventive maintenance support, helping reduce breakdown-related downtime and improving overall rider confidence. The pilot is currently live across Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Mohali, Zirakpur, Panchkula, Kharar and Dehradun.

Instamart said the initiative is designed to translate road safety awareness into practical, everyday protection. By pairing real-time emergency tools with on-ground vehicle care, the company aims to strengthen preparedness rather than react only after incidents occur.

The programme builds on the broader Swiggy Delivering Safely charter, a nationwide road safety effort focused on responsible riding and risk reduction. In 2025, Swiggy conducted more than 22 structured road safety training and awareness workshops in collaboration with city traffic police departments, alongside rallies, safety pledges and helmet distribution drives.

These new measures also add to Swiggy’s existing safety protocols, which include an in-app SOS button connecting delivery partners to helplines, local police or hospitals. In 2023, the platform became the first in the delivery sector to introduce free ambulance services for delivery partners.

Today, Swiggy supports over 6.9 lakh delivery partners across India, offering benefits such as accident insurance, medical coverage, income support during recovery from illness or injury, and bereavement leave. With the latest Instamart-led rollout, the company is signalling that faster deliveries do not have to come at the cost of safer roads and that protecting the people behind the wheel remains a priority, not an afterthought.