Haphazard parking plagues the city’s roads. While around 50,000 people face daily inconvenience, no one seems to be taking responsibility. Vehicles lined up along the roadside outside Fortis Hospital in Phase-8 are not only disrupting traffic flow but also adding to the distress of patients and their families trying to reach the hospital.
The situation is such that lives moving towards the hospital in search of healing are forced to crawl through the maze of vehicles parked on the road. Fortis Hospital and the GMADA office are located opposite each other; the Punjab School Education Board office is also nearby, as is the Mohali Walk Mall.
This entire area sees a daily footfall of approximately 50,000 people. Large numbers of visitors arrive here—patients and their families seeking medical treatment, people visiting the GMADA and Education Board offices for official work, and shoppers visiting the mall. Due to the lack of adequate and organized parking facilities, a vast number of vehicles are parked right along the roadside. The most serious concern relates to patients heading to the hospital.
Time is of the essence when transporting a patient to the hospital for treatment. However, if traffic slows down due to vehicles parked on the road outside the hospital, the situation becomes far more critical than a standard traffic jam.
Vehicles continue to be parked on the road despite restrictions
While there have been past discussions regarding bans and enforcement actions concerning roadside parking, the situation outside Fortis Hospital shows no significant improvement.
During peak hours, long queues of vehicles form along the roadside. Many drivers park right on the road under the pretext of stopping only briefly, causing a large section of the roadway to gradually turn into an impromptu parking zone. **Four Major Hubs, Mounting Pressure on a Single Road**
Traffic congestion is already high in this area due to the presence of Fortis Hospital, GMADA, the Punjab School Education Board office, and Mohali Walk Mall. Roadside parking further exacerbates the situation; pedestrians and motorists are forced to navigate narrow passages, and traffic slows to a crawl during peak hours.
**A Permanent Solution is Essential**
A permanent solution to this problem is crucial. Occasional drives to remove vehicles will not resolve the issue. Relevant departments need to re-evaluate the area’s parking arrangements, provide designated parking spaces, and strictly prohibit on-street parking. “To improve the parking situation here, Fortis Hospital has acquired an additional site from GMADA and submitted a layout plan, which has already been approved. The hospital will soon begin construction of the parking facility, after which the problem will be resolved.” — Sandeep Rishi, Chief Administrator, GMADA, Mohali.
