DP World Opens First Swasthya Kendra in Gujarat to Support India's Truckers

Gujarat, 24 April 2026 — DP World has officially launched its flagship Swasthya Kendra in Gujarat, marking the first milestone in an ambitious nationwide mission to build a network of accessible wellbeing hubs for India's trucking community. With an initial goal of positively impacting one million truckers and their families, the programme represents a long-term, scalable vision to progressively serve trucking communities across the country.

India's truckers form the invisible backbone of the national economy. They enable more than 70% of the country's freight movement, connecting industries, businesses, and households across every corner of the subcontinent. Yet despite their critical role, the more than 6.5 million registered truck drivers operating on Indian roads continue to face serious gaps in access to quality healthcare, financial security, and social welfare support. The Swasthya Kendra programme is DP World's direct response to these longstanding challenges — a commitment to bringing essential services closer to where truckers live, rest, and work.

The inaugural Kendra is strategically situated near the Mundra International Container Terminal in Gujarat, one of India's busiest freight hubs. Spanning 7,000 square feet, the centre has been developed as a fully integrated wellbeing hub designed to serve the trucking community for years to come. Services available at the facility include healthcare consultations, preventive health screenings, rest and recovery spaces, sanitation facilities, and guided assistance in accessing government welfare and social security schemes. The location was deliberately chosen to ensure maximum footfall and accessibility for truckers navigating key freight corridors.

The programme has been developed in close partnership with Plan International India, an organisation with deep expertise in community engagement and grassroots development. This collaboration brings together DP World's logistics infrastructure capabilities and Plan International India's on-the-ground reach to deliver impact that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Importantly, the programme's support services will also extend to the families of truckers — recognising that genuine wellbeing cannot be addressed in isolation from the communities these drivers return home to.

Looking ahead, DP World has outlined plans to expand the Swasthya Kendra network across India, creating a scalable platform that improves quality of life for drivers, strengthens road safety outcomes, and helps future-proof the nation's logistics backbone. In parallel, DP World will continue to advance its Mission For Vision programme, which delivers preventive eye-care initiatives along major transport routes — contributing to safer roads and healthier communities across the country.

Speaking at the launch event, Rizwan Soomar, CEO and Managing Director for the Subcontinent, Central Asia, Levant and Egypt at 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 of the All India Motor Transport Congress, also voiced his support for the initiative: "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."

The launch of the Gujarat Swasthya Kendra signals a broader shift in how global logistics companies are thinking about their social responsibilities within the supply chain ecosystem. For DP World, it is a clear statement that moving goods efficiently and caring for the people who move them are not competing priorities — they are complementary ones. As India continues its trajectory as a global supply chain hub, initiatives like the Swasthya Kendra serve as a reminder that the human element of logistics is just as vital as the infrastructural one.