Loo, not crime is the biggest worry for Riverfront cops

Usha Patel (name changed) has to walk almost half a kilometre every day from her office to relieve herself in the nearest toilet in the Riverfront (East) Garden. Patel, like twenty other people in her 'office', is busy protecting the area and hunting down burglars and rapists. The team of police officers operate from a makeshift police station that is as good as only putting a desk and a chair in a shop by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Since last two years, the team — comprising 4 women — use outdoor washrooms. The officers also have to operate with half the shutters down since there are also no doors in this unique police station. "We pull down the partially because there is a lot of wind and it will only get worse during the summer," one of the officials shared with DNA.

Added to that, the officials also have not been given drinking water facilities. They have to shell out around Rs 2,000 per month to buy bottled water.

The police station itself is located under the Dadichi Rishi Bridge. The shops were originally meant to be rented out and the police station was to be there only for a few months. Even after two years, the plot right opposite to the 'shops' lies empty. "Land has been allotted for the construction of the police station. But, we can't say when the work will be finished," RF Sangada,

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, said. On being asked about the difficulties the women cops have been facing, he claimed that washrooms have been built. When DNA reached the site, no washroom could be seen.