Chennai: Porur is one of the growing commercial hubs in the city. Everyday we see people of all walks of life, from street vendors to big shop owners, bustle about to earn their daily bread.
This May Day, News Today interviewed Murali, an auto driver, who has been in this profession for nearly 20 years.
“I never imagined that Porur would undergo so much change. The scenario here today is completely different to what it was in the earlier days,” said Murali.
The 60-year-old driver has had his own ups and downs in his personal life. “Initially, I worked as a film distributor but due to some personal issues, I bought an auto and thus began this journey,” he said.
He knows all the nook and corner of the neighbourhood. Name a street, he would show you the route. “Since I’ve been living here for a long time, I have a set of regular customers, whom I have come to know personally also. I have become one among their family. Just one call and I would be there at their doorstep no matter what time it is,” he assured.
Speaking to some of Murali’s regular customers revealed that he charges reasonably and is always on time. Above all, it is his honesty and sincerity that makes him lovable amongst his customers, they said.
HONESTY IS HIS POLICY
Murali narrates an unforgettable incident involving a passenger. “Once, a man in his mid-thirties who had received his salary that day got into my auto and left his purse behind. I found it while cleaning my vehicle. Immediately I went to the same house from where I had dropped him and returned his money. The family was depending on that month’s salary and they thanked me whole-heartedly. They have become my regular passengers. Whenever my passengers leave their personal items in my auto, I make it a point to return them on the same day itself,” he smiled.
PARKING WOES
“It is a major issue for auto drivers here. I belong to a separate association so we have our own parking space. But the share autos struggle a lot as they do not have particular space allotted and end up parking their autos on pedestrian pathways.”