Latest news with #Rupani
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
This auto driver earns Rs 30K a day– without driving a single kilometre; here's how
Outside Mumbai's US Consulate, where visa applicants face long lines, tight security, and strict rules, one issue keeps causing stress: what to do with their bags. Since the consulate doesn't allow bags inside and there's no official locker facility, many people are left scrambling for a solution just before their interview. But every day, near the entrance, there's a man quietly offering help. He doesn't drive anyone anywhere, but he's found a simple way to earn a steady income– without even starting his auto. The service that starts with 'bag de do' What looks like just another autorickshaw parked near the consulate is actually part of a clever little service. The driver, who likes to keep things low-key, offers to hold on to people's bags while they go in for their visa appointments. 'Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka kaam hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai,' he tells confused applicants, many of whom have no other choice at that moment. This isn't just a one-time favour– it's a full-time business. Every day, the driver stores bags for around 20 to 30 people. At Rs 1,000 per person, that adds up to a daily income of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. From auto stand to storage hub The process is simple. The autorickshaw is just the starting point. Once someone agrees to hand over their bag, it's not kept in the vehicle– instead, it's taken to a secure location. This spot is reportedly managed with help from a local police officer who provides access to a nearby storage space. There's no online booking, no receipts, and no formal customer service. Still, the service runs smoothly, thanks to routine, reliability, and word-of-mouth. An informal setup, built on trust What makes this setup work is its simplicity– and the trust it has earned over time. Many regular visitors now rely on it without hesitation. Rahul Rupani, one such visitor, shared his experience on LinkedIn. Caught off guard by the no-bag policy, he was unsure of what to do until the auto driver stepped in to offer help. Rupani noted in his post, 'He has created a model built entirely on trust. With no app, no office, and no MBA degree, he earns with just his street smartness and a deep understanding of people.' Online buzz and divided opinions The story has stirred a lot of discussion on social media. While some people praised the autorickshaw driver for finding a smart and practical solution to a common problem, others questioned how safe or legal such unregulated services are, especially around high-security areas like embassies. One LinkedIn user commented, 'Your post has busted his business, income, identity, reg. no…. besides celebrating a jugaad, IT evasion, and exposes an unholy nexus.' Another shared a similar experience, writing, 'Exactly experienced the same last week in Delhi US Embassy where they are using their best of mind to solve a Big problem out and charging hefty from the applicants. Still at the end of they come as saviours. '
India Today
5 days ago
- Automotive
- India Today
How a Mumbai auto driver earns Rs 5–8 lakh monthly without even driving his auto
A Mumbai auto-rickshaw driver has made headlines for running a wildly successful business just outside the US Consulate - not by ferrying passengers, but by offering a simple bag-holding service to visa no tech, no startup funding, and no formal business plan, this particular auto driver has turned a daily pain point into a Rs 5–8 lakh per month Rupani, a product leader at Lenskart, shared the auto driver's story on LinkedIn after visiting the US Consulate for his visa appointment. '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. Just: Figure it out,' Rupani said in his is standard at the consulate, visitors are not allowed to carry bags inside, and there are no lockers or official alternatives Rupani stood on the sidewalk, and was soon after, approached by the auto driver, who offered to safely keep his bag for Rs 1,000.'I hesitated. Then gave in. And that's when I discovered this guy's brilliant business,' Rupani his post, Rupani also described his understanding of the auto driver's business module. So, the auto driver basically found a high-demand, low-supply niche and built a business around it. On a typical day, he handles bags for 20 - 30 customers, all paying Rs 1,000 each. That translates into a monthly income of Rs 5–8 lakh, and he doesn't even drive the it gets better: Since he can't legally keep 30 bags in his auto, he's partnered with a local police officer who owns a small locker space nearby. Bags go there. Legal. Secure. Zero hassle. The auto just acts as the conversion funnel. And while most people are sweating over US visa interviews, this guy is running a zero-mile, hyper-profitable, bootstrapped operation. No MBA. No startup jargon. Just pure hustle and street-smart product-market fit,' Rupani the post here: This Mumbai auto driver's story has been described as a perfect example of real-world hustle and innovation - entrepreneurship in its rawest, most effective Watch
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
LinkedIn user claims Mumbai auto driver earns Rs 5-8 lakh a month using a simple trick: ‘Zero hassle'
Rahul Rupani, product leader at Lenskart, recently flagged the story of an autorickshaw driver in Mumbai who reportedly makes Rs 5 to 8 lakh per month and has also built a successful business, all without actually driving his vehicle. The business addresses an often-ignored but common problem: where can visa applicants keep their belongings when bags are strictly prohibited inside the US Consulate and no official storage facility is available nearby? 'Thousands visit the consulate every day,' Rupani wrote in his now-viral shared post on LinkedIn. '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.' While he stood confused on the sidewalk, an autorickshaw driver waved him over and said, '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). Though it may seem expensive, Rupani pointed out that for someone at risk of missing a crucial visa interview, it's a small price to pay. The driver explained that he waits outside the consulate every day and offers bag storage services to 20–30 people. That means a daily income of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. Rupani also shared that the autorickshaw driver has created a reliable operational system, reportedly in collaboration with a local police officer who provides access to secure locker facilities. The autorickshaw itself functions as a 'point of contact' to build trust. Once that's established, the bags are safely moved to designated lockers. 'He has created a model built entirely on trust,' Rupani said. 'With no app, no office, and no MBA degree, he earns with just his street smartness and a deep understanding of people.' He said, 'This is entrepreneurship in its rawest and most powerful form.' See the post here: The post quickly gained traction, triggering a conversation, with one user commenting, 'Your post has busted his business, income, identity, reg. no…. besides celebrating a jugaad, IT evasion, and exposes an unholy nexus.' Another user wrote, 'Exactly experienced the same last week in Delhi US Embassy where they are using their best of mind to solve a Big problem out and charging hefty from the applicants. Still at the end of they come as saviours.'
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru entrepreneur's claim on Mumbai auto driver sparks awe, disbelief: ‘Earns ₹5–8 lakh a month without driving'
A post by a Bengaluru entrepreneur about an auto driver outside the US Consulate in Mumbai has ignited a heated discussion on LinkedIn. Rahul Rupani, who co-founded VenueMonk, claimed that the auto driver earns between ₹5 to 8 lakh per month without driving and by offering a simple service. '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. Just: 'Figure it out.' While I stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at me: 'Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. ₹1,000 charge hai.' I hesitated. Then gave in. And that's when I discovered this guy's brilliant business,' Rupani wrote. Rupani then explained how the man works, adding that the driver 'partnered with a local police officer who owns a small locker space nearby.' He keeps all the bags he collects from consulate visitors in that locker. 'And while most people are sweating over US visa interviews, this guy is running a zero-mile, hyper-profitable, bootstrapped operation. No MBA. No startup jargon. Just pure hustle and street-smart product-market fit,' he continued. He further labelled the auto driver as a 'real entrepreneur'. is unable to independently verify the claims presented. A request for comment has been made to Rahul Rupani, and this report will be updated upon receiving a response. While some appreciated Rupani sharing the post, others expressed doubts and questions. An individual posted, 'That's not his income alone. He has to share with multiple people, including police. Otherwise, what stops other auto wallahs from doing the same at a lower price? Also, I guess they don't know that there is a locker facility inside the consulate at a charge of ₹500.' Another added, 'This is a perfect example of smart work and its effective execution. Despite not actively driving the auto or other efforts, people trustingly leave their bags and belongings with him, feeling assured of their safety. Convincing strangers and earning their trust is no small feat. It's really impressive. Wow!' A third remarked, 'Hope you realize what BS you are peddling in the name of hustle. This whole operation is wrong at so many levels… Legally… ethically… that it's not even funny as an anecdote. It's literally making/fleecing money by exploiting someone's misery. And if you feel this is a great inspirational story for Indian entrepreneurs, God save the start-up culture in India.' A fourth wrote, 'And you're saying such a big (unethical, but anyway) opportunity exists, and there's just this one guy exploiting it?' A few slammed the post as a 'Fake story.'
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
This Mumbai Auto Driver Earns Rs 5-8 Lakh A Month Using This Simple Trick Outside US Consulate
An autorickshaw driver near the US Consulate in Mumbai earns Rs 5-8 lakh monthly by offering bag storage to visa applicants, highlighting grassroots entrepreneurship Outside the towering gates of the US Consulate in Mumbai, a story of grassroots entrepreneurship is quietly unfolding, one that is now grabbing national attention. It's not a startup pitch from a boardroom or a tech innovation from Silicon Valley, but a street-smart solution from an ordinary autorickshaw driver, now reportedly earning between Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh every month, without even driving his auto. This unconventional business, shared by Lenskart's Product Leader Rahul Rupani in a viral LinkedIn post, centres around a seemingly simple problem: what do you do with your bags when you're barred from taking them inside the US Consulate? Thousands of visa applicants visit the consulate every day. One of the strictest rules in place is the prohibition on bags inside the premises. Add to that, the absence of any official locker facility nearby, and you've got a major logistical headache for applicants carrying documents, electronics, and personal items. That's where the unnamed autorickshaw driver steps in. '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, adding that while he stood clueless on the footpath, an auto driver waved at him, 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)." At first glance, it may seem like an expensive offer but for someone about to miss a crucial interview or risk losing a visa slot, it's a small price to pay. According to Rupani, this enterprising driver parks outside the consulate daily, offering his 'bag storage" service to 20–30 customers each day. That's anywhere from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 daily, an income that rivals or exceeds that of senior professionals in the corporate world. But this is no random hustle. The driver, Rupani says, has even built an operational model in collaboration with a local police officer who provides access to secure locker facilities. The auto serves merely as the 'point of contact"; once trust is established, the bags are transported and safely stored at the designated lockers. He has created a model built entirely on trust, Rupani said. With an app or office or an MBA degree, he earns with just his street smartness and a deep understanding of people. 'This is entrepreneurship in its rawest and most powerful form," he added. While the authenticity of the post has not been officially verified by News18, it has sparked a flurry of online discussion about innovation, hustle culture, and the growing gig economy in the country. First Published: June 04, 2025, 19:00 IST
