Once Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal saw our plan, he approved it in 10 minutes, Mantri says.
It is easy to mistake the gleaming structure made of perforated material along the highway at Thane's Marathon Chowk as a commercial space. Instead, it is actually an Agasti restroom, or public toilet, which is the result of the vision of two young men.
Sahej Mantri (28) spent two years working with an NGO called Gram Vikas in the development sector in Odisha, which focused on sanitation among other aspects. Forced to return home to Mumbai following a bout of malaria, Mantri decided it was time to apply what he had learned in the rural areas to an urban setting. He found his partner in architect Rohan Chavan (30), who, having worked under iconic architects Christopher Benninger and Charles Correa, was itching to do something innovative.
"Once Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal saw our plan, he approved it in 10 minutes," Mantri says.
While the designs were approved in October last year, it took time to get the logistics in place and find the right location. The toilet has been designed in such a way that it makes maximum use of natural light. There is also a central space where phones can be charged and amateur artists can hold exhibitions.
"The design is in response to nature. Flooring is joint free and seamless, making it easy to clean," Chavan said.
While users will be charged Rs5, the duo has already thought of ways to make the toilet sustainable. "There is enough space for an ATM machine to be installed. We can sell the space on the outside to companies, where they can market their products," Mantri added.
There is already a community toilet that has been thrown open free of cost at the Mulund Check Naka, which is used mainly by the truck drivers who park there. The duo hopes that the revenue generated by this toilet will be used to cross subsidise that one.
The two young men have plans for several similar restrooms — 10 in a 15-km radius to be precise — so that the entire venture can be financially sustainable. "We have designed a host of restrooms that can be customised based on the requirements of the area. The idea is to make the city more interactive through such spaces," Chavan said.
While the Agasti restroom is set to be thrown open this week, Mantri, when asked what next, answered, "We hope to build more toilets."
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