Ambulances arriving at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital over the past few months are being hindered at the entry, thanks to autorickshaws, private cars, taxis and even mini-vans blocking the entrance to the casualty ward. Parking spaces meant specifically for doctors and other hospital staff, have also been hijacked by these vehicles that come to drop patients off at the hospital.
A parking lot specifically designated for visitors exists behind the hospital building, where private vehicles can park for the duration of the patient's stay at the hospital. However, in the last few months, vehicles belonging to patients' family and friends have been taking over space meant for staff and ambulances. Between 10 and 15 such vehicles are on the hospital grounds every day.
The Public Works Department, responsible for managing the parking space for the public, has a token system in place, run by contractors. Tokens are allotted for every vehicle parked in the lot. Quoting an approximate figure, one of the employees of the contractor in charge of managing the parking lot, said, “We give out tokens in the day and night. Daily about 1,000 to 2,000 vehicles come in the morning and about 100 to 200 at night.” According to officials running the public parking lot, evicting vehicles from the doctors' parking lot is the job of police personnel at the hospital outpost. After the patient is dropped off, the vehicle either needs to leave the premises, or has to be parked in the designated public lot. This rule however, is constantly flouted by a number of vehicles.
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One of the attendants at the parking lot admitted, “Autos sometimes get in the way. Then the ambulance drivers just tell them to move out of the way.”
When asked, ambulance drivers, said they had frequently seen autorickshaws and taxis near the entrance to the casualty ward and added that it would be better if they were not parked there.
Police personnel at the hospital's outpost denied having seen any vehicles parked inside the hospital premises. “Vehicles are only allowed to park in the ticketed zone. Cars and autos are not allowed to park anywhere else inside. They can only drop off the patient and then either leave or park in the visitor's parking,” they said.
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According to hospital officials, however, some vehicles stay in the hospital parking lot for three to four days at a time, accumulating dust. Some vehicles possibly belong to people who have gone out of town and had wanted to leave their vehicle in a safe space, an official said.
“We sometimes tell the autorickshaws parked inside to leave. But a little while later, they are back again,” added the official.