City gets world-class public loo
Toilet complexes come equipped with a host of facilities
Sandeep Ashar
Mumbai got its first “world-class” public toilet when Mayor Shubha Raul
inaugurated a sophisticated public convenience built by Fumes International
near the Santacruz airport on Sunday. The function was attended by outgoing
Municipal Commissioner Johny Joseph and Additional Municipal Commissioner R
A Rajeev among others.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sanctioned Delhi-based
Fumes International to construct 100 such complexes in the city in the next
one year. To be run by Fumes on a built-operate and transfer basis for 10
years, the public conveniences are set to come up across the city, including
Wilson College at Charni Road, Worli Sea face, Nariman Point, and Mahim
Church. Two of them, one near the domestic airport on the Western Express
Highway and the other opposite the Mayor’s bungalow at Shivaji Park in
Dadar, are ready for use.
BMC chief engineer for solid waste management R R Markendeya said, “Spacious
and with regular running water, the facility at Santacruz has four toilet
blocks for men and three for women and separate toilets for the
physically-challenged.”
Stating that the blocks were planned keeping in mind people’s changing
attitude towards using public conveniences, Markendeya added,”The utility
has been outfitted with hand dryers, liquid soap and separate shower rooms,
while well-lit interiors, an aquarium and a water fountain facing the road
add an aesthetic appeal.”
Fumes International has built more than 30 such toilets in Delhi since 1998.
A team of Mumbai municipal officials visited Delhi in 2005 to find out more
about Fumes’ toilets. Impressed with what they saw, the firm was contracted
to construct similar toilet complexes at a cost of Rs25 lakh each.