Authorities crack down on illegal roadside parking outside SMHS Hospital

Srinagar: Nov 27: In a major relief for patients and attendants at SMHS Hospital, authorities on Thursday launched a special drive against rampant roadside parking outside the main entrance of the tertiary-care facility, clearing a busy stretch that had long remained choked with illegally parked vehicles.

Officials noted that the hospital—one of the Valley’s busiest—witnesses a constant flow of ambulances, emergency referrals, and OPD visitors. The area outside the OPD gate had effectively turned into a traffic bottleneck, as commuters and even some hospital staff routinely parked along the roadside, obstructing the smooth movement of ambulances and vehicles carrying critically ill patients.

According to officials, the drive began early in the morning, with men and machinery deployed to remove dozens of wrongly parked vehicles and free up road space. The primary focus, they said, was on restoring clear lanes for emergency services and enforcing a strict no-parking zone outside the hospital.

“This spot had become chaotic and dangerous, especially for ambulances carrying highly critical patients. At times, they would get stuck for several minutes because cars were parked haphazardly on both sides of the road,” said Muhammad Younis, an attendant.

Another attendant echoed the relief, saying, “It was painful to see ambulances struggling to enter the hospital while drivers refused to give way. This action is appreciable and must continue. It shouldn’t be limited to a one-day drive.”

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, SSP Traffic Srinagar, Ajaz Ahmad, said the crackdown was aimed at ensuring unhindered medical access and maintaining smooth traffic flow around vital healthcare facilities. “We removed illegally parked vehicles and cleared the stretch. Many of the cars found parked there belonged to staff as well, and we urge hospital authorities and vehicle owners to cooperate and use designated parking spaces,” he said.