Chennai, a city with an estimated population of 10.8 billion, faces a severe shortage of public toilets. Meanwhile, citizens have several complaints about the ones that are open and functioning.
Published Nov 15, 2024 | 8:01 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 15, 2024 | 8:01 PM
A pink,-toilet exclusively operated for women and Children, at Vepery, Chennai.
According to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the city, with an estimated population of 10.8 million (1,08,00,000 lakhs), is one of India’s largest and fastest-growing metropolitan cities.
The city is not only home to a dense local population but also attracts more than 10 lakh visitors daily due to its thriving business sector, bustling markets, historical landmarks, and as a hub for cultural and educational activities.
However, there is a huge dearth of public toilets. The toilets that have been constructed are sometimes found locked or lacking in water. In some places, they are just so filthy that no one would want to use them.
The public toilet at Vepery Fire Station
There are currently over 1,110 toilet complexes in Chennai, with 7,000 seats and 300 urinals, according to data with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
Additionally, as part of the Swachh Bharat mission, pink-painted toilets – exclusive for women and children – have been established at 445 locations across the city since 2014.
However, when this correspondent visited some public toilets for the ground report, they were found locked or not opened for public despite being fully constructed.
These include toilets in front of Vepery Fire Station, Mahakavi Bharathi Nagar in North Chennai, and the toilet in front of the Garbage Transfer Station in Pulianthope, or near the Ennore Bus Stand.
Meanwhile, citizens complain that the functioning toilets have not been provided sufficient water. The public toilet behind Rayapuram Mandal Choolai Postal Station Bus Stand has been shut for a year now, awaiting the shelved renovation.
In the Thideer Nagar area, four toilets each have been constructed for men and women, leaving residents lamenting about lack of enough public toilets.
Karthikeyan, a resident of Chulai told South First, “For 50 years, we have had separate toilets here for men and women. Renovation work began last year, and was later shelved. The toilet complex is located just 200 metres from the Vepery fire station. The toilets built under the ₹500 crore Singara Chennai 2.0 project have also been locked for two years. This is causing great hardship to the public, especially women.”
The public toilet at Pantheon Road, Egmore
A shopkeeper in the area who did not wish to be identified said, “I have been running a shop in this area for 30 years. The people of this area are not rich. They rely on public toilets, especially because it is hard for us whose shops have limited space to construct toilets within the shop. The abandoned toilets and those that are constructed but locked should all be opened to the public. Why is this being delayed? “
If abandoned renovation projects and locked toilets were not bad enough, the toilets that are most in demand – near railway stations or bus stands, or those that cater to people whose homes have not toilets – are dirty and smell to high heaven.
In Thideer Nagar and Purasawalkam, where residents are mostly of modest means, open spaces are still used to relieve oneself. Residents said that they bathe by putting up cloth screens to ward off prying eyes.
A public toilet under construction in Chulai.
At Thideer Nagar, inhabited by thousands of people, there are only eight public toilets; four each for men and women.
Chellammal, 50, told South First: “Families living near the main road in this area use the public toilet and those living at the other end use the open space. Public toilets are cleaned frequently by municipal employees. But many people use them and it is not hygienic. They do not have enough income to stay in houses with toilet facilities. And where would we go? We will be forced to pay extra house rent and look for a new job, if we plan to move out.”
A functioning pink-toilet in Egmore.
A corporation official, who is not authorised to speak to the media, told South First: “On behalf of the corporation, I can state that the corporation is taking steps to construct public toilets with 7,166 seats at 975 places at a cost of ₹11.67 crore. Steps are being taken to maintain the toilets that have already been installed.”
Tamilselvi, one of several people employed to clean these toilets, said, “The corporation has provided essentials required for cleaning. When there is no water, we fill them ourselves with an electric motor. If the motor is broken, we inform officials.”
While these electric motors are being fixed, public toilets are provided with water tankers.
Talking about the struggles the sanitation workers face, Tamilselvi said, “We have two people working from 6 am to 10 pm. We clean the toilets more than five times during each shift.”
Public toilets are crucial to offering a life of dignity and good health to citizens. Toilets comprise necessary and basic civic infrastructure, and as the city expands, there must be plans in place to offer toilet facilities over a larger area.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
