This auto driver has a website, mobile app, 2 TED talks, and over 10k Facebook fans
32 year-old Annadurai runs his share auto on the Thiruvanmiyur-Sholinganallur route in Chennai. His auto is, however, not the one you find on regular days. Annadurai’s auto has top-notch facilities. Free WiFi, mobile charging point, 40 magazines, 10 newspapers, TV, laptop, and tablets; Annadurai's 'Amazing Auto' has it all.
Annadurai was born in Peravurani, a small town in Thanjavur district. His family shifted to Chennai when he was just four. He has been running his share auto for seven years. “I don’t know why I started adding things to my auto. I just thought I must do something for my customers and stocked around 20 newspapers. But, it wasn’t enough," Annadurai told The Hindu.
Annadurai gives free rides to all teachers. "Be it doctors, engineers or even the president, they were groomed by teachers and so I respect them," he told NDTV. He also gives free rides to lovers on Valentine's Day, mothers with their kids on Mother's Day, and fathers of Father's Day. On Children's Day, school children too enjoy free rides in his auto.
With his own website and a mobile app, Annadurai is very popular. He also has a Facebook page with more than 10,000 followers, and has given two TED talks. Annadurai intends to change the way autos work. "A lot of things have changed today, except for the auto. Most auto rickshaws are the same as they were decades ago and there is no improvement. I want to bring a change in this area," Annadurai told Life Beyond Numbers.
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