How Mumbai auto driver's viral moment cost him his Rs 8 lakh monthly side hustle
Not all fame leads to fortune—sometimes, it brings unforeseen consequences. A Mumbai-based autorickshaw driver, once celebrated online for his out-of-the-box entrepreneurial spirit, has seen his thriving venture abruptly shut down. What started as a smart, demand-driven side hustle earning him between Rs 5 to Rs 8 lakh monthly has now ended under the weight of legal and security restrictions.
This driver had ingeniously addressed a major gap near the US Consulate in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. Due to strict security protocols, applicants visiting the consulate were prohibited from carrying their personal belongings, including bags, inside the premises. Spotting a unique business opportunity in this limitation, the autodriver parked just outside the building and offered to safely store bags for visa applicants. His service gained popularity quickly, particularly because no official storage or locker facility existed nearby.
However, after the driver’s innovative setup gained widespread attention through a LinkedIn post, it attracted not only praise but also scrutiny. The recognition came from Rahul Rupani, a product leader at Lenskart, who highlighted the autodriver’s daily routine of serving 20 to 30 clients, generating impressive earnings of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per day. Rupani applauded his street-smart business model and noted that his monthly income rivaled that of experienced professionals in the corporate world—despite his lack of formal business training or technical infrastructure.
Unfortunately, this burst of attention also reached the authorities. As reports of the operation spread, Mumbai Police quickly stepped in. Officials summoned the autodriver and a dozen others who were offering similar services near the consulate. According to a senior officer from the BKC police station, the operations were in direct conflict with local security mandates. The consulate is a high-security zone, and no parking or unauthorized commercial activity is allowed nearby, especially involving the storage of unverified personal items.
The police noted that neither the autodriver nor the others involved had obtained any formal permission to provide storage services. Storing random belongings in such a sensitive area was deemed a potential security threat. As a result, the locker service was promptly terminated, and strict warnings were issued to all individuals involved to cease and desist from restarting any similar service in the vicinity.
What started as an inspiring example of entrepreneurial grit has ended in silence. The autodriver’s story now stands as a reminder: while innovation can spark success, going viral without legal safeguards can sometimes shut the very doors it opens.
This driver had ingeniously addressed a major gap near the US Consulate in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. Due to strict security protocols, applicants visiting the consulate were prohibited from carrying their personal belongings, including bags, inside the premises. Spotting a unique business opportunity in this limitation, the autodriver parked just outside the building and offered to safely store bags for visa applicants. His service gained popularity quickly, particularly because no official storage or locker facility existed nearby.
However, after the driver’s innovative setup gained widespread attention through a LinkedIn post, it attracted not only praise but also scrutiny. The recognition came from Rahul Rupani, a product leader at Lenskart, who highlighted the autodriver’s daily routine of serving 20 to 30 clients, generating impressive earnings of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per day. Rupani applauded his street-smart business model and noted that his monthly income rivaled that of experienced professionals in the corporate world—despite his lack of formal business training or technical infrastructure.
Unfortunately, this burst of attention also reached the authorities. As reports of the operation spread, Mumbai Police quickly stepped in. Officials summoned the autodriver and a dozen others who were offering similar services near the consulate. According to a senior officer from the BKC police station, the operations were in direct conflict with local security mandates. The consulate is a high-security zone, and no parking or unauthorized commercial activity is allowed nearby, especially involving the storage of unverified personal items.
The police noted that neither the autodriver nor the others involved had obtained any formal permission to provide storage services. Storing random belongings in such a sensitive area was deemed a potential security threat. As a result, the locker service was promptly terminated, and strict warnings were issued to all individuals involved to cease and desist from restarting any similar service in the vicinity.
What started as an inspiring example of entrepreneurial grit has ended in silence. The autodriver’s story now stands as a reminder: while innovation can spark success, going viral without legal safeguards can sometimes shut the very doors it opens.
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