Auto Driver Not Allowed To Drop Passengers Inside 5 Star Hotel: Billionaire Founder Asks Why?

On many highways and expressways in India and around the world, two-wheelers are not allowed. In India, we often see boards restricting the entry of tractors, autos, and two-wheelers on expressways. This is done to prevent accidents and avoid inconvenience to other road users, as vehicles travel at high speeds on these roads. It’s not just roads that restrict the entry of certain types of vehicles. Some hotels and even airports do not allow autorickshaws to enter. Billionaire businessman Dr. A. Velumani, founder of Thyrocare Technologies, recently encountered a similar situation that left him wondering—why?

Dr. A. Velumani shared the incident on his profile. He flew to Mumbai for an event, and after landing at Terminal 2, he took an auto to the venue just for fun. He had a good conversation with the auto driver, during which he learned that the driver’s son was actually studying at IIT Hyderabad.

The driver, who has a wife and son, rides his auto for around 12–14 hours every day. When Velumani asked about the long shifts, the driver explained that his son’s tuition fees were too high, and he had to work hard to pay for them. By the time their conversation ended, they had reached the drop-off location.

Velumani had asked the auto driver to drop him at a five-star hotel in BKC. However, when the auto driver tried to enter the hotel premises, he was stopped. According to Velumani’s post, the security guard behaved rudely with the auto driver and asked him to move the auto away, stating that it was the hotel’s rule.

Dr. Velumani was left wondering what had just happened. He was forced to get out of the auto and walk to the hotel. The comment section under his post was filled with responses, with many people sharing similar experiences.

One person wrote, “Once, at the Radisson Hotel in Jaipur, my autorickshaw was stopped by security at the entry gate. I had to call the lobby manager to allow the auto to enter up to the porch. I told them that either they let him in, or I would stop visiting their hotel in the future.” Another comment read, “Sir, you should name and shame the hotel. This seems like untouchability! Next, they may not allow low-end cars in, as they ‘ruin the ambience’!”

The reason why some five-star hotels do not allow three-wheelers is that they believe it affects the ambience or image of their property. Most of these luxury hotels are premium establishments, and they feel that having an autorickshaw parked at their porch diminishes their status and creates a poor impression for their guests.

Five-star hotels are private properties and reserve the right to admission. However, we do not fully agree with their decision to prohibit autorickshaws entirely. In this case, the auto driver would have simply dropped off the customer and left. He was not there to park the vehicle or pick up anyone. The rude behaviour from the security guard is in fact more damaging than the rule that restricts entry of autos. Hopefully, the concerned authorities were informed about this situation and necessary action was taken.