New Delhi, May 28 -- It is hard to find a railway porter (coolie) these days. The iconic helpers clad in red were relied upon to carry heavy luggage and expertly navigate the chaos of an Indian railway station. They have largely vanished since the arrival of wheeled trolleys and escalators. Technology packed them off.

Ironically, last week, technology brought back a new kind of coolie to Delhi's Lajpat Nagar. A new service called CarryMen allows shoppers to book a man who will hold your shopping bags. Clad in orange T-shirts, they can carry up to 12kg for 30 minutes for a payment of Rs.79. Additional services include providing umbrellas, folding-chairs and power banks so that consumers can shop and never drop.

It is starkly reminiscent ...