The Uber driver who has never cancelled a ride
New Delhi: If you have ever used an Uber or Ola to travel in the city, you would be extremely familiar with a driver cancelling your ride the moment they get to know your destination. But, Old Delhi's Abdul Qadeer will never disappoint you. With a 4.88 rating, 96 per cent acceptance rate and a 0 per cent cancellation rate, Qadeer has made sure his white Celerio is equipped with everything one might need even in case of an apocalypse.
44-year-old Qadeer first started driving a cab in November 2016 with Uber, after facing severe respiratory problems due to his previous job working in one of Old Delhi's many Mughlai shops. "The smoke from the chulha caused me a lot of problems and my nasal track got very badly affected," he said, looking out the window of his car. After going through minor surgery, he returned to work in the kitchen, but the problem persisted, with doctors saying that it was no longer healthy for him to work in such an environment.
At this point, with the help of his nephew, Qadeer started driving his first cab, a run-of-the-mill white WagonR, not an uncommon sight on Delhi roads. "When I started, it was great. I used to get so many rides, the incentives were great and I never had a problem getting customers," he recalled. But, in little more than a year's time, Qadeer started getting lesser rides and with it, he started losing his incentives.
Taking his woes back home, Qadeer had a heart-to-heart with his now 13-year-old daughter, who suggested that he should start thinking about what customers would like during their rides. But the sight of a seat organiser in the heart of Kashmere Gate revived Qadeer's passion and he decided that he could put in very little effort and make his cab the most equipped and prepared for customers to have an enjoyable ride.
One and a half years later, his white Celerio is equipped with two seat organisers at the back of each of the front seats, which have everything starting from emergency medication, face creams, water bottles, newspapers, toys for children and even an umbrella. In addition to two dustbins to maintain cleanliness, Qadeer also has a 'Vomiting Case' installed in the car, for inebriated passengers and riders who might experience car sickness.
"I believe in doing anything professionally. If I can spend a little effort to bring happiness to people, why shouldn't I?" he said. Rave reviews from customers are now a regular affair for Qadeer, who also has a small notebook for feedback in his car. "I feel so happy when my daughter reads out the comments to me. It gives me so much joy to do what I do," he said.
