When you enter a movie theatre or supermarket, you're often asked to leave your bags or large belongings outside. A similar policy reportedly exists at the US Consulate in India—no bags allowed inside. While this might seem like a minor inconvenience to most, one man saw it as a business opportunity.
Thousands of visa applicants visit the US Consulate daily, many unaware that carrying bags into the premises is strictly prohibited. With no official locker or storage facility nearby, according to reports, applicants are left worried, wondering where to leave their belongings. This gap in service presented the perfect opportunity for an autorickshaw driver parked outside the consulate.
Keep bags safe for a fee
Instead of driving passengers, the driver offered to safeguard applicants’ bags for a fee. What began as a simple service quickly turned into a business, earning him a good sum.
Applicants would hand over their bags before entering, retrieve them afterward, and pay for the safety and convenience. According to a LinkedIn post, the driver now earns between Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh every month.
Rahul Rupani of Lenskart noticed this driver and shared a note about his work on social media.
"Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai..."
"I was outside the US Consulate this week for my visa appointment, when security told me I couldn’t carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions," Rupani wrote in his post.
“While I stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at me, saying, ‘Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai (Sir, give me the bag. I’ll keep it safe. I do this daily. Just Rs 1,000).’”
But it gets better. Since he can’t legally keep 30 bags in his auto, Rupani shared that the driver has partnered with a local police officer who owns a small locker space nearby. "Bags go there. Legal. Secure. Zero hassle".
Rupani’s post has now gone viral.
