Sadar Hospital Ranchi Parking Scam: Visitors Duped, Charged Despite Free Policy

Ranchi: People visiting Sadar hospital in Ranchi complained that visitors are being duped in the name of parking charges on the premises.Many vehicle owners even alleged that they were forced to pay parking fees for stopping for even five minutes within and around the hospital premises for dropping or picking patients.Patients and their relatives alleged that though the parking policy clearly state that the first 10 minutes of parking are free, they were charged for a full hour. For example, Guddu Kumar, a patient’s attendant visiting the OPD on Saturday, said, “We come here hoping for affordable treatment, but are openly forced to pay parking charges even for a few minutes. It feels like exploitation at a place meant for the poor.” Anil Kumar, a resident of Itki, said, “I brought my father to Sadar Hospital for an ECG and blood tests and parked my motorcycle outside the campus. We were inside for a little over two hours, but I was charged Rs 30 when I returned. When I pointed out that the parking policy allows lower charges, the staff started arguing and raised their voices, creating an embarrassing scene.”Around 800 vehicles are parked daily in and around Sadar Hospital. Civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said parking operations at the hospital were allotted to an agency through a tender process. “If parking fees are not charged as per the prescribed policy or collected incorrectly, then an inquiry would be conducted,” he said. As per the parking policy, parking is free for the first 10 minutes. After that, the charge is Rs 10 for two-wheelers and Rs 30 for four-wheelers for up to three hours, with an additional Rs 5 per hour thereafter.