BENGALURU: Commuters at the Shanti Nagar bus depot have been complaining about the BMTC monetising public toilet usage. While there is a sign that says urinals are free, commuters said they were forced to pay Rs 5 -Rs 10 before even entering the toilet
“I commute every day to Ooty from the bus stand and use the toilet regularly. The fee is Rs 2 for defecation, while there is no charge for using the urinal. Yet, when we question the higher rates, they treat us with disrespect and do not allow entrance till we pay. There is an entire business where they loot money from people daily. It is especially hard for women and people from a lower economic background,” said Prem Kumar, a researcher.
“If we pay Rs 10 for the Rs 2 fee, they claim to not have any change and refuse to return the amount,” Prem added. Homemaker Sreelakshmi, who used the facility at the bus stand, along with her four-year-old son and her husband (who works as a security guard), said they travel to their hometown in Tamil Nadu whenever possible. “I have a baby with me and have to use the toilet. It is difficult that they are charging us like this but what can we do? We are helpless,” she said.
Her husband Ramaiah urges the BMTC to look into the matter and pay their workers regularly to prevent taxpayers from getting looted. Raju, a person who was in-charge on some days, said, “I do not work here regularly but either way, we are asked to collect money from commuters who want to use the toilet,” he said.
BMTC's Shanti Nagar controller, Eshwarappa, said they are not directly in charge of the toilets and it could be the workers charging the public in order to pay the cleaners. "We have not received any complaints so far," he added.Divisional controller (South), Jagadish Kumar, BMTC managing director, V Ponnuraj, were unavailable for comment.