Mayor opens swank toilet to public

Mayor Shubha Raul on Friday inaugurated the long overdue, state-of-the-art toilet at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). DNA had reported on December 17, 2007 that the mayor had then declined to inaugurate the public utility, saying the toilet should not be seen as a revenue generator and that there was a need for toilets in western suburbs, too.

It was only when the the builder assured construction of similar toilets in the western suburbs near the Bhagwati Hospital that Raul agreed to inaugurate the one at CST.

There was an urgent need for a public toilet at CST. When the heritage committee objected to the construction of the toilet in the heritage precinct, the BMC conducted a signature campaign in support of the utility. The civic administration also held a signature campaign for the same.

Raul had earlier alleged that the toilets were being built only in the VIP areas where it was easier to generate revenue through advertising, and not in the suburbs where the need was high but ad revenues less. She said, “They have started work on the toilet near Bhagwati Hospital. That is the reason

I agreed to inaugurate this one. There was an urgent need for a toilet in that area.” The toilet will not carry advertisements. Additional municipal commissioner, RA Rajeev said, “Since this place has a heritage culture, we will not advertise on it. If this project is  not viable, we may allow them to advertise elsewhere.”