Amid the daily rush near the Baripada bus stand in Baripada, one autorickshaw driver has quietly turned compassion into routine service. For over three months, 37-year-old Binod Lohar has been offering free rides to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital for those who cannot afford transport.

Watching for need, not passengers

Every morning, as engines sputter and conductors shout destinations, Lohar scans the crowd—not for fares, but for people who look like they need help. Between 11 am and 1 pm, and again for an hour after 4 pm, he ferries poor patients, senior citizens, the infirm and persons with disabilities between the bus stand and the hospital without charging anything. For differently-abled persons, the service is available at any hour.

A moment that changed everything

The idea was unplanned. Earlier this year, Lohar noticed an elderly woman walking slowly towards the hospital with her granddaughter late at night. They admitted they had only ₹200 and could not afford an auto. He dropped them at the hospital for free. “That moment stayed with me,” he said, realising how often illness becomes heavier because of money.

Many patients arriving from distant villages spend most of what they have reaching town; the last few kilometres to the hospital are often covered on foot. Since then, free hospital trips have become part of Lohar’s daily routine—often at least four every morning.

Trust takes time, kindness takes money

Convincing people isn’t always easy. “When I say it’s free, they don’t believe me,” he smiles. “They think there must be some condition.” Evenings are simpler; returning patients are easier to identify—tired, slow, and drained after long waits.

For the rest of the day, Lohar works like any other auto driver, charging regular fares to support his family amid rising fuel costs. The free rides are not backed by any organisation; they come entirely from his own pocket. To spread awareness, he has put up a poster behind his auto and shared his phone number inside the vehicle.

Help beyond the road

According to reports, Lohar is also a regular blood donor and helps poor patients arrange free or low-cost ambulance services when referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

In a place defined by hurry and noise, one man’s quiet resolve has made the journey to care a little lighter.