Engineer turns package, Porters himself to office to beat Bengaluru’s traffic

Bengaluru: The struggle to find a cab ride in peak hours in the city is infamous. But a software engineer figures out a way ‘outside of the app'.
On Thursday, Pathik Ghughare, a 22-year-old resident of HSR Layout, was required to work from office and return his company laptop. Despite trying for hours, he couldn't book a cab or auto on any ride-hailing app. Traffic, peak-hour demand, or sheer bad luck — whatever the reason, he was stranded.
Frustrated but determined, he was considering his options. That's when he had a eureka moment. If he couldn't find a ride for himself, maybe he could send his laptop instead. He opened Porter, an intra-city package delivery app. The platform allows users to book two-wheelers to deliver packages under 20 kg — his laptop fit the criteria perfectly.
As the delivery partner arrived and Pathik handed over the laptop, a wild idea struck him. What if he delivered himself along with the laptop? With nothing to lose, he asked the driver if he could tag along. The driver, understandably puzzled, took a moment to process the request. Pathik braced for rejection. But instead, the driver shrugged and said, "Hop on, I'll drop you at your office."
And just like that, Pathik rode to work — not as a passenger, but as a package in transit. The ride, though just four-km long, turned into an experience he wouldn't forget. Upon reaching his office, he expected the driver to charge extra, but the man refused. Touched by his kindness, Pathik tipped him generously.
"Throughout the ride, I kept laughing at how I found a workaround for Bengaluru's ride-hailing chaos. It wasn't a long ride, but it was definitely one for the books," he told TOI.
Sharing his experience on X, he posted, "had to porter myself to office today cuz no ola uber :("
Many social media users applauded his creativity in tackling Bengaluru's traffic and ride-hailing issues. Some called it a "classic Bengaluru moment," admiring his out-of-the-box approach to the city's commuting struggles. While a few admitted they considered similar workarounds but never tried them, others suggested adjusting work hours to dodge peak-time congestion.
Turns out, when the city won't give you a ride, you just have to ‘deliver' yourself!