DP World launches ‘SWASTHYA KENDRA’ programme
DP World announced the launch of its flagship Swasthya Kendra in Gujarat, marking the first step in a nationwide mission to build a network of accessible wellbeing hubs for India’s trucking community. With an initial ambition to positively impact one million truckers and their families, the programme reflects a long-term vision to progressively serve trucking communities across the country.
India’s trucking community forms the backbone of the nation’s supply chains, enabling over 70% of the country’s freight movement and connecting industries, businesses, and households across geographies. With more than 6.5 million registered trucks on Indian roads, access to quality healthcare, financial security, and welfare support continues to remain a significant challenge for many within the sector. Through the Swasthya Kendra programme, DP World seeks to address these longstanding gaps by creating accessible wellness hubs across key freight corridors, bringing essential services closer to where truckers live and work.
The first Kendra in Gujarat, strategically located near the Mundra International Container Terminal, spans 7,000 square feet and has been developed as an integrated wellbeing hub designed to serve the trucking community over the coming years. It will provide access to healthcare services, preventive screenings, rest and recovery spaces, sanitation facilities, and assistance in navigating welfare and social security schemes.
The initiative has been developed in partnership with Plan International India, combining DP World’s logistics and infrastructure expertise with deep community engagement capabilities to deliver meaningful and sustained impact. Support services will also extend to truckers’ families, underscoring a broader commitment to holistic wellbeing and community resilience.
As part of its long-term vision, DP World plans to expand the Swasthya Kendra network across India, creating a scalable platform that improves quality of life for truckers, strengthens road safety, and helps future-proof the nation’s logistics backbone. Complementing this effort, DP World will continue to advance its Mission for Vision programme through preventive eye-care initiatives along major transport routes, contributing to safer roads and healthier communities nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Rizwan Soomar, CEO and Managing Director, Subcontinent, Central Asia, Levant and Egypt, DP World said, “India’s growth story will be shaped not only by world-class infrastructure, but by how we support the people who keep trade moving every day. Truckers are the backbone of our supply chains and vital to the nation’s progress. At DP World, we believe infrastructure development must go hand in hand with social impact. The launch of the first Swasthya Kendra in Gujarat marks the beginning of our long-term vision to build a network of support that progressively serves trucking communities across India, ensuring those who drive economic growth are supported with dignity, wellbeing, and opportunity.”
Naveen Gupta, Secretary General, All India Motor Transport Congress, commented: “Truck drivers are the backbone of the transport industry and key contributors to the nation’s economy. They often operate under demanding conditions with limited access to adequate rest, leading to fatigue. The pan-India Swasthya Kendra initiative goes beyond infrastructure - it recognises their contribution and seeks to improve their wellbeing. Through this partnership, drivers will have access to essential amenities, critical information, and healthcare support helping to bring greater comfort, safety, and dignity to their lives.”
Mr. Mohammed Asif, Executive Director- Plan International India, said: “By transforming the rest stop at Mundra into a hub of healthcare, wellbeing, and essential services, this initiative marks a significant step towards inclusive development, with a special focus on truckers and, by extension, their families and communities. Plan India is proud to partner with the district government and local community, with the support of DP World, to deliver integrated assistance and promote wellbeing for truckers on the move.”
