Bengaluru-based mobility platform Namma Yatri has launched Namma Santhe, a retail service geared toward giving drivers on its community entry to merchandise used for work and at dwelling.

The service has been developed in partnership with Keystone Commerce and is out there via a web based storefront within the Namma Yatri driver app and a bodily retailer on the firm’s workplace in Koramangala, Bengaluru.

Namma Yatri stated the service had been made accessible to its 7.71 lakh enabled drivers from 15 August 2026.

Drivers can have merchandise delivered to their properties throughout Bengaluru or gather orders from a pick-up location offered via the app. Its bodily retailer, positioned on the bottom flooring of its Koramangala workplace, operates from 11:00 to 19:00.

Namma Santhe initially gives cellphones and equipment, three-wheelers, automotive necessities, rain covers, security merchandise, electronics, family items, private care merchandise, baggage and work equipment, amongst different objects.

The initiative was supposed to handle not solely what drivers earn but additionally what they spend on merchandise wanted for his or her work and households.

“Most conversations about driver livelihoods are about what a driver earns. Only a few are about what he spends,” stated Rajiv Ravindran, head of Namma Yatri Karnataka.

“Namma Santhe is our answer for that. We take no margin on it,” he stated.

Namma Yatri stated it doesn’t add a margin to merchandise bought via Namma Santhe. It added that costs are in contrast with on-line and offline markets earlier than bulk or institutional charges are negotiated with suppliers.

Keystone Commerce is liable for sourcing merchandise from producers, authentic tools producers, authorised distributors and different suppliers. In accordance with Namma Yatri, merchandise and suppliers are assessed for authenticity, high quality and guarantee assist earlier than being listed.

Purchases via Namma Santhe are optionally available and usually are not linked to a driver’s earnings or exercise on the ride-hailing platform, Namma Yatri stated. It added that there was no minimal buy requirement or deduction from driver earnings, and that purchases wouldn’t have an effect on subscription standing or the allocation of rides.

The corporate additionally stated the retail service didn’t contain platform-linked EMI funds.

Namma Yatri has described Namma Santhe as the primary purchasing platform in India created by a ride-hailing firm particularly for drivers on its community. 

One driver, Chandrshekar S, purchased a double-battery automobile washer equipment via the service.

“App alli order maadidhe, ashte. Very simple. Equipment mane ge quick bandhbittu,” he stated, describing the ordering course of as simple and saying the equipment was delivered to his dwelling rapidly.

Its different programmes embody Mahila Shakti for ladies drivers, entry to low-cost credit score, financial savings initiatives and hyperlinks to social-security schemes.

It plans to increase the vary of merchandise supplied via Namma Santhe primarily based on demand and finally broaden the service to incorporate extra advantages for drivers’ households.

Namma Yatri operates on the Open Community for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and makes use of open community requirements primarily based on the Beckn protocol.

It claims to have greater than 1.6 crore registered customers, 1.3 million month-to-month energetic customers and about 7.71 lakh enabled drivers.

In accordance with Namma Yatri, drivers on its community have accomplished greater than 14.98 crore journeys and earned about Rs 2,627 crore via its direct-to-driver (D2D) ride-hailing mannequin, which operates with out fee deductions from journey fares.