G Annadurai spends a third of his Rs 25,000 monthly income on adding new facilities to his three-wheeler
Fast gaining popularity as 'the amazing Wi-Fi auto', G Annadurai's three-wheeler can be seen zipping across Chennai's IT Corridor daily.
Equipped with Wi-Fi, a note in the autorickshaw prominently displays its user name and password. The autorickshaw also has a tablet, a TV set and a mini library with the day's newspapers and more than 40 magazines neatly arranged in folders on the sides.
There are other incentives too to take a ride in the autorickshaw - a chance to win Rs 1000 for frequent riders, a quiz contest with a monthly cash prize, along with facilities to charge mobile phones, top up pre-paid cards and pay Direct To Home or DTH bills.
Mr Annadurai, whose father was also an autorickshaw driver, says he spends a third of his Rs 25,000 monthly income on adding facilities in the vehicle for his customers. "I do this only for one reason. Customer is the real God. We can do any work but giving what satisfies them gives me a huge job satisfaction for me," he says.
"We don't feel like travelling on an auto. It's like an entertainment shop," says Tanuj, a techie who works for an IT company, who adds he gets time to read newspapers only during his half-hour ride in Mr Annadurai's auto-rickshaw every morning.
Vignesh uses the tablet in the autorickshaw
to browse and download apps. "I wait for this auto every day," he says.
Sujatha, another regular customer, scans through fashion magazines for ideas and tips.
Along with all the hi-tech facilities in his auto, Mr Annadurai also gives free rides to teachers. "Be it doctors, engineers or even the President, they were groomed by teachers and so I respect them," he says.
Mr Annadurai says he pays for the education of a child and his dream is to establish a home for senior citizens.