The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a strict directive to operators of pay-and-use public toilets in Mumbai, mandating comprehensive upgrades within three months. Failure to comply could result in suspension or termination of their contracts, according to civic officials.
Review Meeting Highlights
The decision was announced following a review meeting chaired by BMC Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar on Saturday. The meeting was specifically convened to evaluate the condition of public toilets managed by private agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across North Mumbai. Civic officials reported that inspections uncovered significant deficiencies in cleanliness, maintenance, and basic amenities at numerous facilities.
Required Improvements
Operators have been directed to undertake a series of corrective measures, including:
- Replacing damaged commodes and fittings
- Repairing broken doors and windows
- Fixing damaged tiles and cladding
- Undertaking painting and beautification works
- Improving overall upkeep standards
New Mandatory Systems
In addition to physical upgrades, the BMC has made it compulsory for all public toilets to implement the following:
- A citizen feedback system to gather user opinions
- Maintenance of hourly cleaning logs
- At least one deep-cleaning drive every week
- Installation of an IoT-based odour monitoring system called "Gandhavedh" to control foul smells
Enforcement and Consequences
Officials confirmed that assistant commissioners of the concerned wards have been instructed to issue notices to all operators and closely monitor compliance. Agencies that fail to carry out the prescribed improvements within the three-month deadline could face suspension or cancellation of their contracts. In such cases, alternative operators will be appointed to take over the facilities.
