New Delhi: As the fuel price hike knows no bounds, a Maharashtra man has found a quirky way to keep his expenses in check. Shaikh Yusuf from Aurangabad, who works as a lab assistant at a pharmacy, commutes to and fro his workplace and home on a horse, reported news agency PTI.
The petrol and diesel prices in Maharashtra are Rs 115 and almost Rs 100 per litre respectively which were hiked today as well by 50 paise and 55 paise. The fuel prices have been hiked for the fourth time this week across the country and the cost depends on state-specific taxation.
However, Yusuf has been riding the horse to his workplace which is 15 km away, since the early days of the pandemic. While talking to PTI, he said that he had to leave his motorcycle earlier during the lockdown as all the garages were shut and maintenance of a motorcycle was getting difficult.
"Following the lockdown, garages were shut for a long time and the service and maintenance of the motorcycle was a problem, even the fuel prices have been going up. So, I decided to put away my vehicle and bought a Kathiawadi horse," Yusuf told PTI.
He added that now he travels for 30 km on horseback to and fro his workplace and home.
"Travelling on a horse is certainly cheaper than moving around on a motorcycle. Also, while commuting on the bike, we sometimes just roam around as it only requires a kick to start it. But, while using the horse for commuting, we think of its health and our health condition too," he said.
He also added that sometimes children wave at him from their cars, which makes him happy. "Sometimes, children travelling in expensive cars wave at me when I am out on my horse, and I feel happy," he said.
He also added that rising prices of commodities can also be controlled if fuel prices come down.