Jaipur: To alleviate parking congestion, SMS Hospital administration has launched a one-month valet parking pilot for its doctors. Dr Sushil Bhati, medical superintendent of SMS Hospital, told TOI, “With a daily influx of 750 cars against a capacity of 250, we faced significant challenges. The parking constraints were causing delays in doctors reporting for their OPD and IPD duties.” Bhati said the hospital administration decided to implement valet parking services with dedicated staff. “Currently operating on a trial basis, vehicles are being accommodated at SMS Medical College premises.” He added that the hospital is negotiating with JMC to secure 500 parking spaces at Ram Niwas Bagh parking lot for doctors. “If the trial brings positive results, we will invite tenders for valet parking to expand it to other places for resolving parking issues,” said Dr Bhati. Currently, all three parking lots at the hospital remain jam-packed with vehicles daily, forcing patients’ attendants and hospital staff to park their vehicles at different locations on and around the hospital premises. With the initiation of the valet parking service, the difficulty in finding parking has reduced significantly as doctors summon valets and receive their cars within minutes. Dr Rajkumar Harshwal, an orthopaedic surgeon at SMS Hospital, said, “When we call, they bring the car back within minutes. It is a great initiative.”
