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Bengaluru girl drives auto, delights internet: ‘I love driving, don’t have budget for car’
A young woman who turned her passion for driving into a profession has delighted the internet with her grit and positive attitude.
A young woman who turned her passion for driving into a profession has delighted the internet with her grit and positive attitude. Safura plies an autorickshaw in Bengaluru – where she recently picked up Tamanna Tanweer as a passenger. What followed was an interactin, filmed by Tanweer, that has gone viral online.
Tanweer explained that she was trying – and failing – to book an Uber, Ola or Rapido in Bengaluru when she met Safura. “This was the first time I sat in an auto being driven by a young girl. I decided to ask her some questions,” she said.
“I love driving”
Responding to her passenger’s queries, Safura explained that she loves driving. However, she did not have a budget to buy a car, so she decided to start smaller and bought an autorickshaw, which she now plies around the city.
“I love driving with any vehicle. Car, auto, bike, anything I can drive. It’s just that I can buy auto in my budget. So I don’t have the budget for buying a Swift car. So I thought I will go with the auto first. Then we’ll see in the future I can buy or not,” she told Tanweer.
Buying an auto instead of a car
Safura, 29, told HT.com that she learned driving a motorcycle from her brother. Her friend taught her how to drive a car. “It's so amazing to drive. It's joyful,” she said.
The Bengaluru woman initially worked in the delivery space with brands like Swiggy and Dunzo. Eventually, she went to Uber to drive a rented vehicle. This, however, proved too costly.
“They charged ₹1,000 daily for renting the car and ₹1,000 for CNG,” Safura explained to HT.com. “So I quit and I asked my mother for a car”.
Safura's mother explained to her that the family did not have the budget to buy her a car. However, she promised to make the down payment for an autorickshaw if Safura herself took care of the EMIs.
And that's exactly what she did. The 29-year-old now begins her day at 5am, taking her autorickshaw out on the streets. She works roughly 14 hours on any given day.
From passion to profession
Turning her passion for driving into a profession has an added advantage for Safura – she does not suffer from Monday morning blues.
“Whatever I am doing, I am not feeling ‘Oh it’s a Monday. I have to go to work’. I am enjoying every single day, and I’m happy. I’m full of energy,” explained the woman auto driver.
HT.com has reached out to Safura. This copy will be updated on receiving a response.
Tanweer praised Safura for breaking stereotypes, inspiring women, and doing what brings her joy. Her video has gone viral with over 7.6 lakh views, and viewers were full of praise for the young auto driver.
“I love the energy and hats off to her for breaking stereotypes,” wrote one X user. “Her smile is so refreshing. Hope all her dreams come true,” another said.
Some people even wondered whether they could start a fundraiser for the Bengaluru youngster.
