Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Oct 24: Developed for the benefit of medical patients and their relatives, the Autorickshaw Stand at Parnashala in Middle Andaman has become a cause of concern for the residents of the region. Encroachment on the Auto Stand by private motorists, particularly hospital staff and nearby residents, has left patients and their relatives harried as availing an autorickshaw from the Community Health Centre at Rangat has become a cumbersome task.
“The Gram Panchayat, Parnashala, developed the Auto Stand for the benefit of patients and their relatives who avail treatment at CHC Rangat. Hundreds of patients from Rangat and adjoining areas avail the services of CHC Rangat.
While returning they have to wait for hours to board a bus to go to the Main Bus Terminus to reach their homes. In view of the trouble being faced, the Panchayat authorities constructed the Stand so that autorickshaws can remain parked at the bay to offer prompt transport to the patients.
“Sadly, I have never seen any auto parked in the stand since its construction. The parking lot remains dominated by private vehicles mostly belonging to the hospital staff preventing autowallahs and patients to get benefited from the facility. Patients and their relatives continue to face difficulties at Parnashala waiting for the bus to reach their destinations,” bemoan some patients.
The law enforcing agencies should immediately intervene into the situation and unauthorised vehicles found parked in the auto stand should be challaned appropriately. The Panchayat body should also approach agencies concerned to put the facility into optimal use for the benefit of the population.
