Ranchi's Sadar Hospital Parking Scam Exposed: Visitors Forced to Pay Even for Brief Stops
Visitors to Sadar Hospital in Ranchi have raised serious complaints about being systematically duped through unauthorized parking charges on the hospital premises. Numerous vehicle owners have come forward with allegations that they are being forced to pay parking fees even for stopping for as little as five minutes within and around the hospital campus, primarily for dropping off or picking up patients.
Violation of Official Parking Policy
Patients and their relatives have highlighted a clear violation of the hospital's official parking policy, which explicitly states that the first 10 minutes of parking are completely free of charge. Despite this, many report being charged for a full hour regardless of their actual parking duration. This discrepancy has sparked outrage among those who rely on the hospital for affordable healthcare services.
First-Hand Accounts of Exploitation
Guddu Kumar, an attendant visiting the Outpatient Department (OPD) on Saturday, shared his distressing experience: "We come to Sadar Hospital hoping for affordable medical treatment, but instead we are openly forced to pay parking charges even for a few minutes. This feels like blatant exploitation at a place that is supposed to serve the poor and vulnerable."
Anil Kumar, a resident of Itki, recounted a particularly embarrassing incident: "I brought my father to Sadar Hospital for an ECG and blood tests and parked my motorcycle just outside the campus. We were inside for slightly over two hours, but when I returned, I was charged Rs 30. When I politely pointed out that the parking policy allows for lower charges, the staff immediately started arguing and raised their voices, creating a humiliating scene in public."
Scale of the Problem and Official Response
The issue affects a significant number of people daily, with approximately 800 vehicles being parked in and around Sadar Hospital each day. When questioned about these allegations, Civil Surgeon Dr. Prabhat Kumar clarified that parking operations at the hospital were allocated to an external agency through a formal tender process.
Dr. Kumar stated: "If parking fees are not being charged according to the prescribed policy or if collections are being made incorrectly, then a proper inquiry will be conducted to address these concerns." This official response indicates that hospital authorities are taking the complaints seriously and may initiate corrective measures.
Official Parking Policy Details
According to the established parking policy at Sadar Hospital:
- Parking is completely free for the first 10 minutes
- After the initial free period, the charge is Rs 10 for two-wheelers and Rs 30 for four-wheelers for up to three hours
- An additional Rs 5 per hour is applicable thereafter
The systematic violation of these clearly defined rules has created an atmosphere of distrust and frustration among patients and visitors who are already dealing with health-related stress and financial constraints.
