No MBA, No Fancy App: This Mumbai Auto Driver Earns Rs 5–8 Lakh/Month Without Driving by Turning a Service Gap into an Opportunity with Out-of-the-Box Thinking
In a remarkable tale of street-smart entrepreneurship, an autorickshaw driver in Mumbai is earning between ₹5 to ₹8 lakh every month—not by ferrying passengers, but by safeguarding their belongings. Stationed outside the US Consulate, where carrying bags inside is strictly prohibited, this auto driver offers a high-demand, high-trust bag-keeping service at ₹1,000 per bag.
This innovative business model came to light when Rahul Rupani, Product Leader at Lenskart, shared his personal experience in a viral LinkedIn post. Recounting his visa appointment visit, Rupani wrote:
“I was outside the US Consulate this week when security told me I couldn’t carry my bag inside. No lockers. No suggestions.” That’s when an auto driver stepped in, offering: “Sir, bag de do. Safe rakhunga, mera roz ka hai. Rs 1,000 charge hai.”
With 20–30 customers every day, the driver pockets ₹20,000–₹30,000 daily—putting his monthly income on par with senior corporate executives. The fee, although seemingly high, is a stress-free solution for visa applicants unwilling to risk their appointment slots over bag restrictions.
But this isn’t just a side hustle. The driver has set up a scalable system. He collaborates with a partner who helps manage off-site locker storage. The auto acts as a front-end interface or “conversion funnel,” while the bags are safely stashed away—making the operation secure and legal.
“No MBA. No startup jargon. Just pure hustle,” Rupani wrote, calling it a brilliant example of real-world entrepreneurship. “Real entrepreneurship doesn’t always need a pitch deck. Sometimes it just needs a parking spot.”
While we have not independently verified the driver’s monthly earnings, the post has stirred conversation around India’s dynamic gig economy and the power of grassroots innovation.
This story isn’t just about making money—it’s about understanding need, seizing opportunity, and delivering value in the most unexpected ways.
