Vehicles parked near the casualty block at the district headquarters hospital in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, March 10: People visiting the district headquarters hospital face problems due to haphazard parking on the health facility’s premises as there is no dedicated parking area.

Vehicles are often seen parked on way to the casualty and the general outpatient department (OPD).

“Such mismanaged parking on the premises often create trouble for patients, who come across the haphazardly parked vehicles on their way to casualty and the OPD,” said a patient, Kailash Pradhan.

After passing through the main entrance, the patients reach the casualty department. But, several vehicles remain parked on the way from the entrance gate to the casualty department.

“The authority does not seem to bother about the problem. They should ask the visitors not to park their vehicles on way to the casualty,” said an attendant of a patient, Khieswar Sethy.

The 223-bed government hospital is an important health centre of this region. Patients from across the region and neighbouring districts are dependent on this health facility.

“Thousands of people from across Sambalpur and from other districts regularly visit the hospital. The administration must regulate the parking, so that patients do not suffer,” said local resident Chinmaya Mohapatra.

Chief district medical officer Jagat Krushna Samantray admitted that there was no dedicated parking space on the hospital premises. He said: “There are two garages near the entrance gate. We have decided to dismantle those garages and create parking space there.”

“The work will begin shortly. Parking will not be a problem for the patients of this hospital once the proposal gets materialised,” said Samantray.