The toilets will have separate facilities for the handicapped and will be equipped with features like dryers, water fountains and fish aquariums.
World class toilets, the most recent feature to be included in Mumbai’s march towards attaining world-class city status may still have some way to go.
Even as the first such toilet, developed by Fumes International, was inaugurated by Mayor Shubha Raul on May 29, senior officials conceded that the corporation might need to rethink the token charges of Rs1 and Rs2 introduced for the utilising the facilities. The charges are a rupee more than what is presently charged at most public urinals.
Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Chief Engineer for solid waste management, RR Markendeya, said, “There is resentment in some quarters about the charge.” The token charges were introduced in the hope of inculcating a sense of responsibility among users, he added.
Additional Municipal Commissioner RA Rajeev said, “The toilet blocks were planned keeping an eye on changing people’s attitude towards using public conveniences. Presently, people tend to forget that somebody else will use the facility after them. BMC might revisit the proposed charges but the suggested revised model needs to be a revenue model for the project to be a success.”
BMC has sanctioned Fumes International to construct 100 such conveniences around the city over the next one year. The toilets, each costing Rs25 lakh, will have separate facilities for the handicapped and will be equipped with features like dryers, water fountains and fish aquariums. They will be run by the company on built-operate and transfer basis for 10 years. The corporation has also allowed Fumes to use revenue generated from advertisements put up at the site.
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