Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is facing a severe daily parking crisis due to a massive gap between vehicle inflow and available infrastructure, with over 13,000 four-wheelers entering the premises daily against a total parking capacity of around 3,900 slots.While construction of a second multi-level facility for 680 cars is ongoing, several designated parking patches on campus remain unpaved, unlevelled, and underutilised, exacerbating congestion for patients, visitors, and staff.Among the neglected sites is the dental parking area near Nehru Hospital, slated for over 150 staff vehicles. Despite commercial shops being demolished years ago to clear the site, the area remains bumpy and unpaved, turning inaccessible during monsoons.Similarly, an unlevelled site behind the Advanced Neuroscience Centre meant for 50 vehicles remains unformalised, forcing motorists to park on roadsides and block traffic flow.Another planned 100-car zone near the National Institute of Nursing Education, designated for the upcoming Critical Care Block, also remains stuck on paper.“Despite repeated identification and clearing of these strategic zones, the failure to level, pave, and formalise them as proper parking grounds continues to waste parking slots,” said a faculty member.Responding to the issue, a PGIMER spokesperson said, “The parking work for the dental parking and New OPD backside area is currently in process and at the tendering stage. The areas will be levelled and made manageable for parking after completion of the tendering process and commencement of the work. The expected timeline will be clear once the tender is finalised.”
