Illegal auto-rickshaw stand a menace to MMCH patients
Adjacent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), an illegal auto-rickshaw stand has been set up, causing gridlock outside the medical facility.
More than 100 three-wheelers use the stand located in the city's Charpara intersection, the main entrance to and from Dhaka and other destinations. As a result, vehicles are often forced to ply a single lane.
Despite the presence of traffic officials in the area, commuters said auto-rickshaw drivers continue to park on the main road, leading to the congestion. Locals said the "illegal auto-stand" has been here for over 20 years.
Long tailbacks caused by the auto-stand has become a menace for hundreds of patients and their attendants, especially those in critical condition, who have to wait in ambulances for a long time before entering MMCH.
Anwar Hossain, attendant of a patient, said, "It's a double trouble for us as a major portion of the road has been occupied by the stand, while the footpaths have been occupied by hawkers. This makes it difficult for us to even walk to the hospital."
"Despite a widespread public outcry against illegal parking and footpath occupation, no one took any step to mitigate the sufferings," said Arabinda Patranabish, a patient.
The demand to remove the stand has repeatedly been ignored by city authorities, said MMCH sources.
Wishing anonymity, a Mymensingh City Corporation official said a lack of manpower is the reason behind addressing this situation.
Asked, MD Aminul Islam, assistant secretary of MCC, said they have already talked with the owners of auto-rickshaws to shift the stand from this busy area. "They have assured us to act on it as early as possible," he added.
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