Eco-friendly carts gather dust at PGI

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 2

At a time when use of eco-friendly vehicles is being encouraged world over, four battery-operated carts deployed for ferrying patients and their attendants without any charge are lying dumped at the PGI here. Instead, fuel-run mini-buses are being used for the shuttle service more.

The dust-ridden carts are lying in the parking space of the transport department of the institute.

“Use of battery-run vehicles should be encouraged. However, it is a different case here. The use of carts is not being fully optimised here. There are no dedicated drivers for these vehicles. In such a situation, how can these be put to use,” asked a PGI functionary preferring anonymity.

“People do not sit in these carts. They think it is a paid service. The mini-buses used for shuttle service are however a hit on the PGI campus,” claimed a driver.

The authorities concerned have failed to mention properly on the carts that these offer free ride. Secondly, contrary to the fact that the carts can be used for ferrying all type of patients and their attendants, it is mentioned on the vehicles that these were “for senior citizens and disabled persons”.

“Earlier, these used to ply on the PGI campus. But these are lying idle for a long time now,” added a PGI employee.

The vehicles were donated by the State Bank of India to the institute. However, their maintenance and driving had to be taken care of by the PGI.

Harjinder Singh, supervisor, transport department, PGI, claimed, “It is not that we are not using them. These are put into service for two to three hours in the morning. However, people do not prefer them. They think it is a paid facility. Secondly, the carts run very slow, which is why these are not preferred.”

PGI spokesperson Manju Wadwalkar claimed, “The carts are meant for patients and attendants and used in the morning only as that is the time when OPDs witness rush.”

Lapse on part of authorities

The authorities concerned have failed to mention properly on the carts that these offer free ride. Secondly, contrary to the fact that the carts can be used for ferrying all type of patients and their attendants, it is mentioned on the vehicles that these were “for senior citizens and disabled persons”.