Apollo Hospital defends collection of parking charges

After a video purportedly alleging collecting illegal parking charges by Apollo Hospital from patrons and visitors went viral, the hospital administration has ruled out any irregularities within the hospital premises. 

A release issued by the hospital stated that the video and its insinuations are factually incorrect. “The hospital has been paying the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) due taxes and levies for the surface parking area. These taxes and levies entitle the hospital to use the earmarked area as paid parking and charge parking fees as per its schedules,” it stated.

It further reads that this surface parking is not included in the hospital's “Floor Area Ratio” (FAR) hence exempt from the free parking policy that has been laid out by the SDMC for institutions. “We have made this representation to the SDMC and are confident that this current point of contention will be resolved soon,” it said.

However, officials of the SDMC said that an inspection would be carried out to ascertain the veracity of the video. “Initial reports suggest no violation of any laid down norms,” said a senior SDMC official who did not wish to be named. 

The official further said that the malls and hospitals were allowed additional FAR with a condition that they will provide free parking in their underground slots. He further said that it has been found that some of them availed of additional FAR but charged parking fees, which is illegal.