BENGALURU: City’s central civic agency is busy making plans to bring public toilets closer to users — with an app, Swachh Bharat Toilet Locator, to locate the nearest one.
But are these toilets user-friendly? Far from it — some in busy areas have no running water, are poorly maintained (doors do not close) or are physically inaccessible.
City Express does a quick check at and near bus stops.
The toilet near Rajajinagar bus stop doesn’t have running water. It stinks and the floor is covered with faeces. Outside, the walls are plastered with posters of politicians and advertisements. You have to pay Rs 3-5 to use this.
Santhosh Kumar collects money. He washes his hands off the situation. “I started this job three days ago. I clean it twice a day.” The result, however, is for anyone to see.
Near Harishchandra Ghat bus stop, the public toilet is inside the crematorium. There is no power and the water is supplied by the people running the crematorium because the manager cannot afford water tankers. Gates are closed in the late evening.
Its manager Siddaraju, who is physically challenged, says it is difficult to collect money from users. “They refuse to pay and challenge me to make them. It’s rowdyism In a day, we hardly collect Rs 150.” Since he does not get paid, he sees little point in putting in extra effort to maintain it. He says few women use the facility because it is inside the crematorium. “So we let men use women’s loo as well.”
Narayanaswamy, owner of a printing shop nearby, blames Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for the poor state of affairs. “BBMP Contractors bring labourers to clean the toilet once a year. They pay the daily wagers a few thousand. This has been going on for the past 10 to 12 years.”
Women may not be able to spot their toilet at KR Market bus stop, though there are separate facilities for men and women. The two toilets are within 50 metres of each other and there is no board to indicate which toilet is for whom. The men’s has no door.
Sometimes women’s toilets locked up to keep men out. The one near Shivananda Circle is dirty and stinks of cigarette smoke, but if a woman decides to use this anyway, she will find it locked. If she does manage to get it opened, she will need to watch out for peeping toms because the lower end of the door has rotted away. Suresh, the manager, claims he cleans it thrice a day. “There are two toilets for women,” he says. “We unlock it only when necessary, or else men also use them.” BBMP’s special commissioner for solid-waste management Subodh Yadav promises immediate action. “Now that you have brought it to my attention, I will ask the local officials to get the facilities fixed,” he told City Express.
Location: Navrang Theatre
Status: Unclean with posters on the walls
Accessible: Yes
Location: Harishchandra Ghat
Status: Unclean with no regular water-supply. Water sourced from the crematorium. There is no power.
Accessible: No
Location: near Shivananda Circle
Status: Cleaner than the rest but no proper doors.
Accessible: Yes
Location: KR Market
Status: Cleaner than the rest. No boards to differentiate men’s toilet from women’s. No door on men’s toilet. No power in one of the toilets.
Accessible: Yes