Traffic constables regulate movement of vehicles at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 12: Do not be surprised to see a traffic cop stopping your vehicle inside SCB Medical College and Hospital, as authorities have taken measures to put ‘brakes’ on unwanted entry of vehicles into its premises.

Two traffic constables, besides other security personnel, have been deployed to restrict movement of vehicles on the hospital premises.

“The main purpose is to prevent commercial vehicles from entering into the hospital’s area. This will solve the problem of overcrowding due to unrestricted traffic here,” said deputy commissioner of police Praveen Kumar.

A lot of patients coming to the hospital were facing problems because of unrestricted traffic on the road inside SCB Medical College and Hospital between the two entrance gates that connect Mangalabag on the western side with Ranihat on the eastern side.

Moreover, lot of commuters from Mangalabag and Ranihat sides were using the hospital’s thoroughfare to travel to either sides of the city to avoid the traffic congestion on both the main roads.

“Today, I was stopped by a traffic police officer on the hospital premises. The officer asked me to travel through the main road outside the hospital to reach to Ranihat,” said Deepak Sethi, 31, a commuter, who used to travel from Mangalabag to Ranihat through the SCB premises regularly.

He said that cars, autorickshaws, and other vehicles, except two-wheelers, were being allowed to move from Mangalabag to Ranihat through the hospital’s thoroughfare.

“Earlier, many drivers, including autorickshaw drivers, used to park their vehicles in front of the hospital’s wards, creating problems for patients and their attendants. The deployment of traffic police here on the hospital premises will stop this. It will also help in checking rash driving by motorists here,” said Bijay Swain, an attendant.

Official sources said the deployment of traffic constables came following a recent direction of Orissa Human Rights Commission.

A meeting was also held recently to discuss traffic arrangements and put a check on the unrestricted entry of vehicles on the SCB Medical College and Hospital premises.

SCB officials have also been asked to make ‘permanent arrangements’ and deploy private security guards to assist traffic officials.

Though efforts have been initiated to restrict the movement of vehicles at the two main gates of the hospital, there are certain other points which are being used to enter into SCB premises, the official added.

SCB officials have said every step will be taken to restrict vehicular movement on its premises. Efforts are also on to create adequate parking provisions for vehicles that ferry patients, their attendants, and medical staff, said hospital sources.