Amid tight security, cricket fans in India are not allowed by the authorities to take their bags and accessories inside the cricket stadiums. While this has often been a cause of frustration for Team India’s
loyal fanbase across different states, a Kolkata man recently turned the security situation into a profitable business opportunity.
During the first Test of the series between India and South Africa, a local decided to open a small bag-keeping centre and provided a safety shelter for the bags of the fans entering the iconic Eden Gardens. He charged only Rs 50 per bag in a deal that no fan could refuse, given the day-long service.
Man’s Bag-Keeping Centre
The Kolkata man’s private bag-keeping centre was found by one of the spectators outside the Eden Gardens, who recorded him in a popular video. In the video, the spectator queried the centre’s owner about his services while the camera panned to various bags he had kept carefully.
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“Outside the stadium in Kolkata, a local man turned match-day chaos into a clever business opportunity. With fans not allowed to carry bags inside, he offers a private bag-keeping service,” noted a popular account that later shared the video on Instagram.
The spectator, who originally recorded the video, regretted not learning about the bag-keeping service earlier on. “Otherwise I would’ve carried my bag as well,” the spectator said.
A comment highlighted that police in Mumbai have this service already, “In Mumbai police support this service in Wankhede Stadium.”
No Authorised Bag-Keeping Service
The video immediately caught people’s attention on social media as people appreciated the owner for spotting a money-making opportunity.
“An entrepreneur means solving a problem. I am sure he identified it and is making something (big),” noted a user.
Someone wondered, “Just imagine how much he earns.”
“I didn’t know such service existed,” commented an excited fan.
While reflecting wonderfully on the mind of the Kolkata man who opened the service, the video also brought to notice the lack of official bag-keeping facilities inside or outside the stadium in India.
During the recent India-West Indies Test match in Delhi, the DDCA and Delhi police authorities came up with a designated centre to keep the bags that fans carried over. However, it doesn’t look like the move has yet caught on with all state associations under the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
