The parking contractor at Hamidia is allegedly engaged in a blatant display of hooliganism and illegal extortion. Right under the nose of the hospital management, patients and their relatives are being fleeced. Exploiting the helplessness of poor patients arriving from distant areas, the contractor is charging arbitrary rates, leading to widespread public outrage. With thousands of people visiting the hospital daily for treatment, parking vehicles is a necessity that the contractor is exploiting through rampant overcharging.

 

According to the ground report, the parking staff is arbitrarily extorting money from visitors, charging significantly higher amounts than the officially approved rates. Patients and their family members have further alleged that the behaviour of the parking staff is extremely rude and unprofessional. Those who dare to question the overcharging are met with verbal abuse and misbehaviour. When conscious citizens like Rahul (name changed) protested against this illegal hike and demanded to see the official rate list, the contractor’s staff reportedly intimidated them.

 

To give their extortion a cloak of legitimacy, the staff claimed that a ‘new government rule’ had been implemented and the inflated payment was mandatory. The contractor has not only bypassed the authorised pricing but has also started distributing slips with these unauthorised, higher rates printed on them to mislead the public. Shockingly, the slips issued by the contractor do not feature the vehicle number, the name of the tender holder, or any helpline number for the complaint. These incomplete slips, often filled out by hand,

 

have raised serious concerns regarding vehicle security. Family members of patients questioned who would be held responsible if a vehicle were stolen from the hospital premises based on these blank, unofficial slips. Residents noted that since medical treatment at the hospital is a time-consuming process, the contractor is taking advantage of the long duration to extort large sums. ‘Notice issued, fine to follow’ When the team of ‘The Hitavada’ contacted the authority, taking the matter seriously, Dr Suneet Tandon, Medical Superintendent of Hamidia Hospital, clarified that no new parking rates have been approved by the hospital management. In a stern tone, Dr Tandon stated, “We have issued a notice to the contractor, and a fine will also be imposed.” It remains to be seen whether the administration’s warning will rein in the parking mafia or if the daylight robbery of patients will continue.