THE busy streets of Nausori never slows down. From the early rush of market vendors and office workers to the evening crowd returning home, the town widely known as “Suri” is always alive with movement.
Amid the hustle and bustle, 47-year-old Bimlesh Kumar continues to serve the people of Nausori as a dedicated taxi driver, despite the rising fuel prices and increasing challenges of life.
Living along Bau Rd in Nausori, Kumar has spent the last 15-years behind the wheel, working tirelessly to earn a living and support his family.
For him, driving is more than just a job it is a passion that has shaped his life.
Nausori Town serves as a major hub for the provinces of Tailevu, Naitasiri and Rewa.
Every day, hundreds of people travel through the town for work, shopping, school, and other daily activities.
With the constant flow of passengers comes the daily struggle for taxi drivers trying to make enough money in difficult times.
Speaking during an interview, Kumar reflected on his many years in the industry.
“I have been driving taxi for almost 15 years now here in Nausori Town. There are a few old faces still driving, a few have changed base, and a few have passed away,” he said.
Although life has become harder over the years, Kumar remains grateful for what he has.
He lives with his family and says that not being married has made life a little easier to manage financially.
“I’m living with my family, not married, so it’s quite easy for me to handle life in this era.
One of the advantages of working in Nausori for many years is the strong connection he has built with regular passengers.
“It’s an advantage for me because most of my passengers know me, so anywhere I’m in town they will call for a pickup,” Kumar explained.
However, business is not as easy as it once was.
Kumar recalled the days when taxi drivers operated from the old bus stand, where getting passengers was much easier due to the busy location near supermarkets and shops.
“Before our old base was at the old bus stand. It was an easier route for us to get passengers because it was just next to the supermarket, but now we have a base here at the back, it’s quite hard for business.
For Kumar, every day begins early.
His routine is simple but disciplined — a reflection of the hardworking spirit many drivers share.
“My normal routine in the morning is I wake up at 6am, get ready for my day, and by 7.30am I’m in town.
Living close to town along Bau Rd also works in his favour.
“Most times on a lucky day, I pick passengers on the way, and that’s where the hustle begins.”
While weekdays can be steady, Kumar says weekends are usually the busiest period for drivers.
“From Monday to Friday, my busy days are the weekends Friday and Saturday especially.
Sunday is also a good and chill day for doing jobs, but I usually do a half-day show, then I head home for a nice lunch and chill time,” he said with a smile.
Like many people around the world, Kumar says the rising fuel prices has greatly affected taxi drivers.
“As we all know, the fuel crisis is going on around the world, and I can say we are being affected. Doing small runs is useless because the fuel price is high.
“Long runs we can make few dollars and that can support our family.”
Despite the financial pressures, Kumar says safety has become one of the biggest concerns for drivers, especially during night time operations.
“It’s not about the money all the time it’s also about your life,” he stressed.
“We face a lot of challenges. Drunkards and drug gangs always force themselves to get into the car but have no fare. That is really dangerous. I have faced it a few times, so now I only drive in the daytime. It’s safer for me because we all want to be alive and go home to our family.”
Even after years in the industry, Kumar still enjoys driving and believes he is living the dream he had as a child.
“Growing up as a child, we always had our dream jobs. Some people wanted to be doctors, nurses, or policemen. For me, it was simple — I wanted to be a taxi driver because I love driving.”
Kumar ended the interview with a message for fellow drivers and young people across the country.
“My message to all the drivers is to drive safely. Don’t rush for a job pickup and be at risk because it may lead to accidents and someone might lose a life.”
“And to the youths study hard and go for your dreams. Whether it’s driving a taxi or bus or anything else, be happy and stay focused.”
Driving is more than just a job it is a passion for Bimlesh Kumar. Inset: Bimlesh continues to serve the people of Nausori as a dedicated taxi driver. Pictures: JOHN CHETTY
