An auto as comfortable as a car

In the mega city like Mumbai where everyone is in a hurry, there is Deepak Shevale, a 32 year old auto driver who brings a smile on people's faces. Enter Shevale's auto and you cannot hide your smile. The colourful auto has something striking about it. Slogans like, 'Pay with a Smile,' 'No Bhaigiri, Only Gandhigiri,'  'Give Respect, Get Respect,' and 'Don’t Put Your Beautiful Legs Up,' are splashed all around.

“In a short distance drive the passengers don't even realise when they have reached their destination. From the time they enter till they get off they are busy reading the slogans and admiring the auto. When they get off they say your auto is really nice,” expresses Shevale.

His auto is as comfortable as a car. Newspapers, magazines, clock, calendar, fire extinguisher, medicines and tissues, it is stacked with all the small comforts you would need as a passenger. “There is a special fan for the passengers. A list of all emergency numbers is displayed so that if there is a need I know who to call and where to get help for my passengers,” he adds.

It was only after 26/11, the Mumbai terror attack, that Shevale redesigned his auto. On that fateful night he came to know the magnanimity of the attack after he reached home. From then on his aim in life has been to help people during emergency. “Immediately after the attack, I installed a black and white television in my auto to keep myself abreast with the happenings in the city. It helps me plan which route to take during any emergency. The emergency numbers displayed in my auto enable me to get help to my passengers without delay,” he explains. 

Shevale never stopped after 26/11. He kept adding to his auto. Sometimes his passengers advise him on what he can add for their comfort. Shevale says, “Once a passenger told me to put a mobile charger and mobile recharging facility in my auto and I liked the idea. Now I have that.”

He did not complete class ten but he wants his children to study. Even though he brings a smile on other people's faces, his life is not easy. With a loan of Rupees 75,000 at an interest rate of 15 per cent, he works hard each day. “The rising prices have made life difficult for people like us,” says Shevale.

But there are many advantages that come along his way due to the design of his auto. If he errs on the road, one look inside his auto impresses the traffic police and they let him go. His auto gets featured in television serials like Tarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma. In fact, Shevale played a small role as well. “I got this role of playing an auto driver and had a three-four line dialogue also. My neighbours helped me get that opportunity,” smiles Shevale.

He goes all out to help others. “I give 25 per cent discount to disable people and 50 per cent to blind. I do not give discount to all but when I see the person who is poor. Even if I am going to stop at night, if I see an old person I drop them,” says Shevale.

According to him the increasing traffic in Mumbai is affecting their business. He feels strongly about the fact that new cars are being allowed on the roads of Mumbai when the roads have not expanded. His most joyous moment when a lady took his autograph.